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I am a science communicator with a strong research background in biology. Currently, I am an Invited Professor at the School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal and a researcher at ICNova. My work focuses mainly on searching for strategies to debunk fake news about science and to communicate evolution. I graduated in Biology from the University of Lisbon and this was followed by a path in evolutionary biology research: I was a visiting student at the University of Rochester NY (1997-1999) and a visiting scholar at Harvard University (1999-2003), where I developed the research for my Ph.D. Back in Portugal, I received a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Lisbon and was a postdoctoral fellow at cE3c, Lisbon. In parallel with research, my interests in communicating science to wider audiences led me into participating and organizing science communication activities. I took a Masters in Science Communication (NOVA University, Lisbon) and did an internship at the science section of the daily newspaper Público. From 2019 to 2023 I was vice-leader of a working group of a COST Action (EuroScitizen - building in Scientific Literacy in Evolution in Europe) a project devoted to finding best strategies to improve science literacy. I am currently leading a work package in an Erasmus+ project (SchoolFaN - Schools against Fake News for a cooler future), a project to empower school teachers to develop a citizen science Project to detect and debunk fake news related to climate change. I am also a freelance science writer and science news fact checker — I find that writing about science is as exciting as doing science.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Ana Rita de Heaton Ayres Ponce

Citation names

  • Rita Ponce
  • Ana Rita Ponce

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
6114-A272-85AA
ORCID iD
0000-0001-5629-9425

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences
  • Social Sciences - Media and Communications

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
French Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1)
Portuguese (Mother tongue) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Education
Degree Classification
2018
Concluded
 Masters in Science Communication (Mestrado)
Major in Sem especialização
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Portugal
"O papel dos comunicados de imprensa no sensacionalismo em notícias de ciência" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17 (out of 20)
2007
Concluded
 PhD in Biology / specialization Genetics (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

Harvard University Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, United States
"Genetics of a newly evolved testis-specific gene Sdic" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 summa cum laude (Aprovado com Distinção e Louvor)
2000
Concluded
 Masters in Developmental Biology (Mestrado)
Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal

University of Rochester Department of Biology, United States
"Evolutionary genetics of hybrid inviability and cranial development in Nasonia" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Muito Bom
1997
Concluded
 Post-graduation in Developmental Biology (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
 18 valores (out of 20)
1996
Concluded
 Biology (Microbiology and Genetics branch) (Licenciatura)
Major in Microbiology and Genetics
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"Genotoxin tests in human linfocytes " (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 16 (out of 20)
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Comunicação da Nova, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Comunicação da Nova, Portugal
2008 - 2014 Postdoc (Research) Centro de Ecologia Evolução e Alterações Ambientais, Portugal
1999/10/01 - 2003/03/31 Visiting Researcher (Research) Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, United States
1997/09/01 - 1998/05/30 Visiting Researcher (Research) University of Rochester Department of Biology, United States

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2023/10/01 - Current Invited Adjunct Teacher (Polytechnic Teacher) Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal Escola Superior de Educação, Portugal
Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal Escola Superior de Educação, Portugal
2022/09/16 - 2023/08/30 Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
2017 - 2022 Invited Adjunct Teacher (Polytechnic Teacher) Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal
2014 - 2022 Invited Adjunct Teacher (Polytechnic Teacher) Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal
2014/02 - 2014/07 Assistant (Polytechnic Teacher) Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Setúbal, Portugal
2007/10/01 - 2008/09/30 Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
2003/09 - 2008/08 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
2003/10/01 - 2004/09/30 Assistant (University Teacher) Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal

Positions / Appointments

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2017 - 2018 elemento de júri para creditações Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2000/01/01 - 2007/07/24 Ph.D. Student Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
1998/09/01 - 1999/10/31 Graduate student and Teaching assistant University of Rochester Department of Biology, United States
1995/10/01 - 1996/07/31 Research fellow and Invited teaching assistant Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Portugal
Projects

Contract

Designation Funders
2023/12/29 - Current SchoolFaN: Schools against Fake News for a cooler future
Candidatura 2023-1-PT01-KA220-SCH-000160782
Researcher
Universidade de Aveiro Centro de Investigação Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Comunicação da Nova, Portugal
Erasmus Plus
Ongoing
2018/10/01 - 2022/10/01 EuroScitizen — building in Scientific Literacy in Evolution in Europe (CA17127)
CA17127
Researcher
European Cooperation in Science and Technology
Ongoing
2019/01/01 - 2019/12/31 Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais
UID/BIA/00329/2019
Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Portugal

FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Ecologia Evolução e Alterações Ambientais, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2013/05/01 - 2016/12/31 A evolução de estratégias sexuais em Tetranychus urticae, ácaros pragas de cultura
FCT-ANR/BIA-EVF/0013/2012
Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2008/10/01 - 2014/09/30 THE ORIGIN AND MAINTENANCE OF TOXIN-ANTITOXIN LOCI IN BACTERIAL GENOMES: CONSEQUENCES TO QUORUM SENSING AND BACTERIAL PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH
SFRH/BPD/42801/2008
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2011/01/01 - 2013/12/31 Projecto Estratégico - UI 329 - 2011-2012
PEst-OE/BIA/UI0329/2011
Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
1998/10/01 - 2002/09/30 GENÉTICA EVOLUTIVA DOS MECANISMOS DE DETERMINAÇÃO SEXUAL EM HYMENOPTERA INSECTA
PRAXIS XXI/BD/15886/98
Harvard University, United States

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Book
  1. Nogueira, Teresa; Ana Rita Ponce. Influenza Virus: A Challenge to the Immune System and to Medicine in the Light of Evolution. Zenodo. 2021.
  2. Nogueira, Teresa; Ponce, Rita. Vírus da gripe: desafios do sistema imunitário e da medicina à luz da evolução. Building on scientific literacy in evolution towards scientifically responsible Europeans, COST Action CA17127. 2019.
    10.5281/zenodo.5809065
Book chapter
  1. Rita Ponce; Carneiro, Susana ; Rodrigues, André; Topcu, Mustafa. "The impacts of solar radiation on our health". In Learning Evolution Through Socioscientific Issues, edited by Sá-Pinto, Xana; Beniermann, Anna; Børsen, Tom; Georgiou, Martha; Jeffries, Alex; Pessoa, Patricia; Zeidler, Dana L., 182-196. 2022.
    Published
Conference abstract
  1. Espirito Santo, Maria Catarina; Santos, Marta D.; Valença, Manuel; Ferreira, Miguel; Rita Ponce. "Estratégias na gestão de gabinetes de comunicação S e XS". Paper presented in Congresso SciComPt - Transformar, Bragança, 2023.
    Published
  2. Dufour, Héloïse; Martinelli, Lucia; Varga, Maté; Ambrósio, Susana; Bilak, Fanny; Branquinho, Raquel; Ferreira, Miguel; Rita Ponce. Corresponding author: Dufour, Héloïse. "SciComm4all: tools to inspire scientists to connect with a multifaceted society". Paper presented in PCST Conference: Creating Common Ground PCST2023R'DAM, Rotterdam, 2023.
    Published
  3. Ambrósio, Susana; Dufour, Héloïse; Bilak, Fanny; Varga, Máté; Martinelli, Lucia; Rita Ponce; Branquinho, Raquel; et al. Corresponding author: Ambrósio, Susana. "ENHANCING SCIENTISTS’ PUBLIC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: THE SCICOMM4ALL PROJECT". Paper presented in 17th annual International Technology, Education and Development Conference: INTED2023, Valencia, 2023.
    Published • 10.21125/inted.2023.2021
  4. Rodrigues, L.A.; Sá-Pinto, Xana; Rita Ponce; Maria João Fonseca; Rita Campos; Susana Varela. "Evolution in Portugal: what Portuguese people know, do not know and are convinced to know, but do not". Paper presented in XI Encontro Nacional de Biologia Evolutiva, Caparica, 2015.
Conference paper
  1. Ponce, Rita; Vala, Filipa; Costa, Gil; Hyldgård, Peter; Sá, Sara; Pinto, Renata; Ferreira, Miguel; et al. "Science-media online training challenges and opportunities". 2022.
    10.5281/zenodo.7105035
  2. Bilak, Fanny; Varga, Máté; Ambrósio, Susana; Martinelli, Lucia; Ferreira, Miguel -; Ponce, Rita; Branquinho, Raquel; Dufour, Héloïse. "How to interact with the public? A short guide to science communication for scientists". 2022.
  3. Drobniak, Szymek; Ponce, Rita; Margo, Alexandra; Bajrami, Ani; Michalak, Angelika; García Jiménez, Antonio; Matthíasdóttir, Ásrún; et al. "Connecting media and scientists - Euroscitizen WG4". 2022.
    10.5281/zenodo.7104979
  4. Ponce, Rita; García Jiménez, Antonio; Branquinho, Raquel; Ferreira, Miguel; Souza Beraldo, Camila; Ambrósio, Susana; Drobniak, Szymek. "Providing new skills to communicate evolution through science-media online training". 2022.
  5. Ambrósio, Susana; Branquinho, Raquel; Ponce, Rita; Dufour, Héloïse; Bilak, Fanny; Varga, Máté; Martinelli, Lucia; Ferreira, Miguel. "SciComm 4all project: a self-learning program that supports scientists in bringing science beyond". 2022.
  6. Ponce, Rita; Ambrósio, Susana; Branquinho, Raquel; Drobniak, Szymek; Ponce1, Rita. "Organização de formações Ciência/Media em formato online: desafios e oportunidades". 2022.
  7. Ponce, Rita. "Communicating evolution in the media: contacting media professionals, exploring different media channels, getting noticed and getting your message across". 2021.
  8. Ponce, Rita. "Evoke, Euroscitizen and other initiatives to foster evolutionary outreach". 2019.
  9. Ponce, Rita; Caria, Helena. "Microbiologia na formação em Enfermagem". 2019.
Conference poster
  1. Ambrósio, Susana; Branquinho, Raquel; Rita Ponce; Dufour, Héloïse; Bilak, Fanny; Varga, Maté; Martinelli, Lucia; Ferreir, Miguel. Corresponding author: Ferreir, Miguel. "SCICOMM4ALL: providing science communication training for researchers". Paper presented in Congresso SciComPt - Transformar, 2023.
  2. Rita Ponce; Nogueira, Teresa. "Influenza: an evolving virus. A game to play in the classroom and to learn about evolution!". Paper presented in XV Encontro Nacional de Biologia Evolutiva, 2019.
  3. Rita Ponce; Rita Campos; Maria João Fonseca; Telma Laurentino; Xana Sá-Pinto; Duarte; Leonor Rodrigues; André Levy; Nogueira, Teresa. "Advancing Evolutionary Biology Education and Outreach in Portugal : the myriad of activity of NEDE". 2017.
  4. Rita Ponce; Nogueira, Teresa. "Are bacterial antitoxins public goods?". Paper presented in IX Encontro Nacional de Biologia Evolutiva, 2013.
  5. Leonor R Rodrigues; Salomé H Clemente; Joana Carvalho; Fernando Duarte; Ana Rita Ponce; Susana AM Varela; Isabelle Olivieri; Sara Magalhães. "Why do spider mites mate with mated females if only the first mating is effective?". Paper presented in VIII Meeting of the Portuguese Ethology Society (SPE), Lisboa, Portugal, 2013.
Journal article
  1. Rita Ponce. Corresponding author: Rita Ponce. "Recensão crítica de “combater as noteensinar o pensamento crítico e a literacia mediática numa era digital” (2021) de Brian C. Housand". APEduC Journal 04 02 (2023): 215-217. https://apeducrevista.utad.pt/index.php/apeduc/article/view/462.
    Open access • Published
  2. Nogueira, Teresa; Ponce, Rita; Nogueira, Teresa; Rita Ponce. "O vírus da Gripe". Revista de Ciência Elementar 9 2 (2021): 32. http://hdl.handle.net/10451/48817.
    10.24927/rce2021.038
  3. Clemente, Salomé H; Rodrigues, Leonor R; Ponce, Rita; Varela, Susana A M; Magalhães, Sara. "Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 70 8 (2016): 1161-1170.
    Published • 10.1007/s00265-016-2124-0
  4. Werren, John H.; Cohen, Lorna B.; Gadau, Juergen; Ponce, Rita; Baudry, Emmanuelle; Lynch, Jeremy A.. "Dissection of the complex genetic basis of craniofacial anomalies using haploid genetics and interspecies hybrids in Nasonia wasps". Developmental Biology 415 2 (2016): 391-405.
    Published • 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.12.022
  5. Xana Sá Pinto; Maria João Fonseca; Rita Ponce; Paulo Oliveira; Rita Campos. "Evolução biológica no dia a dia das escolas". Revista de Ciência Elementar 2 3 (2014): https://doi.org/10.24927/rce2014.055.
    10.24927/rce2014.055
  6. Rita Ponce; Martinsen, Lene; Vicente, Luís M.; Hartl, Daniel L.. Corresponding author: Rita Ponce. "Novel Genes from Formation to Function". International Journal of Evolutionary Biology 2012 1 (2012): 1-9.
    Published • 10.1155/2012/821645
  7. Rita Ponce. Corresponding author: Rita Ponce. "The recent origin of the Sdic gene cluster in the melanogaster subgroup". Genetica 135 3 (2008): 415-418.
    Published • 10.1007/s10709-008-9288-0
  8. Rita Ponce. Corresponding author: Rita Ponce. "The use of a non-LTR element to date the formation of the Sdic gene cluster". Genetica 131 3 (2007): 315-324.
    Published • 10.1007/s10709-007-9141-x
  9. Ponce, Rita; Hartl, Daniel L.. "The evolution of the novel Sdic gene cluster in Drosophila melanogaster". Gene 376 2 (2006): 174-183.
    Published • 10.1016/j.gene.2006.02.011
  10. Ponce, Rita; Ranz, José María; Hartl, Daniel L.; Nurminsky, Dmitry. "Origin and Evolution of a New Gene Expressed in the Drosophila Sperm Axoneme". Genetica 118 2/3 (2003): 233-244.
    Published • 10.1023/A:1024186516554
Magazine article
  1. Sá-Pinto, Xana; Ponce, Ana Rita de Heaton Ayres; Fonseca, M.J.; Oliveira, P.; Campos, A.R. "A evolução biológica no dia a dia das escolas.", Revista de Ciência Elementar, 2014
Newspaper article
  1. Sá-Pinto, Xana; Rita Ponce; Cavadas, Bento. Corresponding author: Sá-Pinto, Xana. "(H)À Educação: Antigamente a posta de bacalhau era maior, não era?", Diário de Aveiro, 2021
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Ponce, Ana Rita de Heaton Ayres. "O papel dos comunicados de imprensa no sensacionalismo em notícias de ciência". Master, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/54180.
  2. "The role of press releases in the origin of hype in science (O papel dos comunicados de imprensa no sensacionalismo em notícias de ciência)". Master, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, 2018. https://run.unl.pt/handle/10362/54180.

Artistic / Performance

Script
  1. Dufour, Héloïse; Bilak, Fanny; Varga, Maté; Ambrósio, Susana; Martinelli, Lucia; Miguel Ferreira; Rita Ponce; Branquinho, Raquel. Getting your work out: how to be prepared for a video interview (SciComm4all). 2022.

Other

Other output
  1. How does scientific news arise? (EuroScitizen WG4: Episode 1). 2023. Drobniak, Szymon; Ponce, Rita; Bajrami, Ani; Barstad, Johan; Beraldo, Camila Souza; Branquinho, Raquel; Ferreira, Miguel; et al. https://hdl.handle.net/10216/156012.
  2. Researcher-Media interface (EuroScitizen WG4: Episode 2). 2023. Drobniak, Szymon; Ponce, Rita; Bajrami, Ani; Barstad, Johan; Beraldo, Camila Souza; Branquinho, Raquel; Ferreira, Miguel; et al. https://hdl.handle.net/10216/156113.
  3. Perception of science News in society (EuroScitizen WG4: Episode 3). Video . Será disponibilizado publicamente no site do EuroScitizen em http://www.euroscitizen.eu/. 2023. Drobniak, Szymon; Ponce, Rita; Bajrami, Ani; Barstad, Johan; Beraldo, Camila Souza; Branquinho, Raquel; Ferreira, Miguel; et al. https://hdl.handle.net/10216/156128.
  4. Conversas com os autores: Sessões paralelas B; Co-construir parcerias e caminhos na diversidade - "EuroScitizen, uma rede de parceiros"". 2022. Sá-Pinto, Xana; Pessoa, Patrícia; Ambrósio, Susana; Cavadas, Bento; Sousa, Bruno; Ponce, Rita; Branquinho, Raquel. https://hdl.handle.net/10216/146995.
  5. Online science-media training schools: an organizational protocol. 2022. Ponce, Rita; García Jiménez, Antonio; Ferreira, Miguel; Branquinho, Raquel; Beraldo, Camila Souza; Drobniak, Szymon M.; Rita Ponce; Miguel Ferreira. https://hdl.handle.net/10216/146964.
    10.5281/zenodo.7050865
  6. Jogo: um vírus em evolução (Game: an evolving virus). A board game about the evolution of the flu virus. 2019. Nogueira, Teresa; Rita Ponce. https://apbe.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/2/1/122176867/jogo_da_gripe.pdf.
  7. Despite reproductive interference, the net outcome of reproductive interactions among spider mite species is not necessarily costly. Behavioral Ecology. 2017. Clemente, S.H.; Santos, I.; Ponce, R.; Rodrigues, L.R.; Varela, S.A.M.; Magalhães, S.; Clemente, Salomé; et al. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85095640232&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1101/113274
Activities

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2009 - 2010 The role of fitness frequency-dependent in the evolution of antibiotic resistance
Co-supervisor of Diana Ribeiro Alves
 Microbiologia Aplicada (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Jury of academic degree

Topic
Role 		Candidate name (Type of degree)
Institution / Organization
2021 Insights on the Heat Resistance of Drosophila melanogaster
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Tânia Alexandra Pereira Dias (Master)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2014 On the identification and evolution of ecologically relevant genes in Drosophila americana
(Thesis) Arguer
 Micael Fernandes dos Reis (PhD)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2010 The role of frequency-dependent fitness in the evolution of antibiotic resistance
Supervisor
 Diana Ribeiro Alves (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2019/05/01 - Current Association British Science Writers (ABSW)
2016 - Current Portuguese Ethological Society (Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia) society member; direction member (2017-2019)
2014 - Current Rede SciComPT member
2011 - Current Portuguese Association for Evolutionary Biology (Associação Portuguesa de Biologia Evolutiva) association member and element of the general assembly

Conference scientific committee

Conference name Conference host
2024 - 2024 SciComPt 2024 — Linguagens e vozes para uma ciência acessível Universidade do Minho, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL)
2023 - 2023 XIX ENBE Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Association for Evolutionary Biology Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Lisboa
2023 - 2023 XX Congress of the Portguese Ethological Society BIOPOLIS Association - CIBIO
Distinctions

Award

2022 Pedagogical recognition award - course with higher success rate from 3rd year of Biomedical Technology degree
Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal
2020 Prémio de Mérito — recurso educativo Casa das Ciências

Other distinction

2018 Projeto de divulgação apoiado pelo OUTREACH FUND
Associação Portuguesa de Biologia Evolutiva, Portugal