Mario Peláez-Fernández is a science communicator best known in role as drag queen Sassy Science (or Crisis Artrítica to Spanish audiences).[1]
Sassy Science
editSassy Science is a drag queen disseminator of science and makes appearances wearing a crown and matching dress with the pattern of graphene.[2][3][4]
Sassy Science has created YouTube videos about underrepresented minorities in STEM.[5][6] Her channel has 3 main categories: "Why the hell am I doing this", "Queens who were robbed" and "Queens of today". "Queens who were robbed" focuses on members of the STEM community who did not receive academic recognition for a variety of reasons, including unfair prejudice.[7] Lise Meitner, Rosalind Franklin and Hedy Lamarr are people featured on this series.[8]
Sassy Science reached the semi-finals of the FameLab España 2019 science communication challenge. As part of the semi-finals, she performed a stand-up routine lasting five minutes. This routine was in front of a large audience and was also broadcast online.[9]
In April 2019, films made by Sassy Science were screened at the Asturias Festival de Cine LGBTIQ.[10]
In July 2019, Sassy Science was invited to perform at the Madrid launch of PRISMA (Asociación para la Diversidad Afectivo-Sexual y de Género en Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovación), a Spanish organisation founded to increase the visibility of LGBT people in science, technology and innovation.[11][12]
Education
editPeláez-Fernández got a degree in Physics at the University of Oviedo. An Erasmus scholarship enabled him to complete his final year at the University of Paris-Sud (now a section of Paris-Saclay) between 2013 and 2015. He completed his thesis in the Labatoire de Physique de Solides in Orsay, analysing their STEM images.
It was at the University of Paris-Sud that Peláez-Fernández specialised in nanotechnologies and nanodevices for his master's degree in fundamental physics. "A study of pristine and functionalised graphene using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy" was the focus of his master's thesis.[13]
Research
editPeláez-Fernández is a PhD student at the University of Zaragoza in the Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon. He is a member of the MAGNA (Magnetismo en Nanoestructuras) Research group.[14] The focus of his PhD is the use of transmission electron microscopy for the study of the properties of 1D and 2D materials, including graphene. It also discusses future applications of this technology, such as solar cells and touchscreens.[15]
Peláez-Fernández's research is funded by the Enabling Excellence European project.[7]
Personal life
editPeláez is non-binary.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Sassy Science, the world's first drag queen to popularise science / Interview / SINC - Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas". www.agenciasinc.es. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ Jar, Núria (22 January 2019). "Drag queen científica: Sassy Science, la primera 'drag queen' del mundo que divulga ciencia". Público (in Spanish).
- ^ Duke, Barry (6 June 2019). "Spain adores its drag queens". EuroWeekly.
- ^ Miñana, Fernando (25 January 2019). "'Reina' de la ciencia". Las Provincias (in Spanish).
- ^ Raffio, Valentina (7 April 2019). "PROYECTO DE DIVULGACIÓN CIENTÍFICA: Sassy Science: "El drag me permite hacer divulgación científica y activismo"". elPeriódico (in Spanish).
- ^ "Sassy Science, la primera 'drag queen' divulgadora de ciencia". El Universal (in Spanish). 23 January 2019.
- ^ a b Community, Nature Research Microbiology (2019-01-08). "A sassy way to highlight minorities in STEM". Nature Research Microbiology Community. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ Pozo, Desirée (2019-02-03). "Sassy Science: «La divulgación científica puede salvar vidas". Hipertextual (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ "Mario gets Sassy : A Grand Challenge". Enabling Excellence ETN. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ Fernández, S. (23 March 2019). "La primera "drag queen" científica del mundo divulga física en Avilés". La Nueva España (in Spanish).
- ^ MM, César (2019-06-16). "Presentación en Madrid". Prisma, LGTBIQA+ en STEM (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ Pozo, Desirée (2019-07-04). "Nace PRISMA, la asociación para apoyar a las personas LGTBI+ en ciencia, tecnología e innovación". Hipertextual (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ "Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon, Zaragoza". Enabling Excellence ETN. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ "People | MAGNA - Magnetismo en Nanoestructuras" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2019-07-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Meet these LGBTI geniuses of science and engineering who are shaping our future". Gay Star News. 2019-04-11. Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ Peribáñez Baiges, Christian (2021-11-29). "Sassy Science: "En la ciencia sigue habiendo sesgos de género, raza y orientación sexual"". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2023-02-04.