Soledad De Esteban-Trivigno

Scientific Director at Transmitting Science, Secretary of European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, Spain.

Since I was a student I was mystified for how evolution works. I would like to understand how evolution operates to generate/restrict morphological diversity. For me (a palaeontologist’s point of view with few or no access to genetic data) that means to analyze changes in morphology in the light of phylogenetic and functional constraints.
At the end of my degree I became fascinated by xenarthrans, as they are so unique, mostly unknown, strange mammals. In consequence, I did my PhD developing ecomorphological analysis and body mass estimation on mainly Pleistocene glyptodonts and ground sloths.
After that, I did a Postdoc at the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, in Barcelona. Afterward, I co-founded, together with two good friends, Transmitting Science, a project to create and organize advanced courses for scientists. For me Transmitting Science is a space for learning, growing, and generating synergies between researchers, and in the last years has become a space to discuss and think about equity, and ways to improve things for women in science too.
I have been a member of the European Society of Vertebrate Palaeontologists for 15 years now, and now I am its secretary.

Recorded Talk