Scientist Spotlight: Mercedes Lopez
Mercedes Lopez is a Principal Investigator at the National Polytechnic Institute in Guanajuato, Mexico. Her research focuses on how naturally occurring chemicals from agave plants impact human health. Agave is probably most famously known as the type of plant used in the production of tequila, and agave nectar is often used as a sweetener. In 2014, Dr. Lopez coauthored a study titled Agave Fructans: Their Effect on Mineral Absorption and Bone Mineral Content. In the summer of 2017, this article was covered by a science news website and the story was subsequently picked up by numerous newspapers and television stations across the country.
Read about Dr. Lopez’s personal background and path into science in her biography: Mercedes Lopez Biography.pdf
Read the VICE article about some of the research which became prominently featured in the news: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ypeea5/have-a-third-margarita-because-tequilas-great-for-your-bones You can access a PDF copy here: Mercedes Lopez – Have a Third Margarita Because Tequila’s Great for Your Bones – VICE.pdf
Then read the Harvard Heart blog post about the same research for comparison: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/truth-tequila-bones-201605259671 You can access a PDF copy here: Mercedes Lopez – Harvard Health Blog The truth about tequila and your bones – Harvard Health Blog.pdf
Read a short popular article about some of Dr. Lopez’s recent research: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/help-fighting-obesity-might-be-in-agave/ You can access a PDF copy here: Mercedes Lopez Help fighting obesity might be in agave, from which tequila is made.pdf
Finally, read the review article by Dr. Lopez about fructans and their potential impact on human health: Mercedes Lopez – Implications of Fructancs in Health Review.pdf
After reviewing these resources, write a minimum 350 word reflection that discusses the questions below.
I have attached the pdf files for resources and ppt files for course materials.
Reflection questions and prompts:
How does Dr. Lopez’s research relate to our discussions in the course so far? Be specific and link her work to at least one specific Learning Objective, and at least one general concept, that we have discussed so far, using in-text citations.
What was most interesting to you in reviewing these resources, and why?
What are three big takeaways that you got from reading Dr. Lopez’s review article on fructans?
What do these resources tell you about the people who do science and why they do it?
In what ways do you see yourself in Dr. Lopez’s career pathway in science? If you don’t see yourself, what do you see as the major differences?
