Jose Maria Gutierrez Gutierrez, a Doctor of Microbiology and recent recipient of the Magón Prize, emphasizes the importance of science education and communication to society. He notes that Costa Rica has a scientific system that has developed vaccines and a public health system with highly qualified professionals all over the country. However, public institutions, including the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) and public universities, have been weakened, which is necessary to ensure justice. Gutierrez believes that this health system needs to be defended, and institutions must be strengthened. Furthermore, the One Health concept provides a framework for integrating human, veterinary, and ecosystem health and learning to coexist with other components of the ecosystem, such as snakes. Finally, Gutierrez believes that receiving the Magón Prize is a great honor, and it reminds him to contribute his best to the country in the fields of science, higher education, social projects, and culture in general. Despite being retired for four years, Gutierrez continues to develop his projects at the ICP and the UCR. He wants to continue giving back to culture through science.
José María Gutierrez, Magón 2022: “If Society Appropriates Science, Fairer Environments Will Be Built”
The Magón Prize, which has been awarded for 61 years to citizens of Costa Rica for a lifetime dedicated to creativity and research, has honored 64 people, with only five of them being science-related. José María Gutiérrez Gutierrez, a Doctor of Microbiology, was named one of the five on March 21st.
For over 40 years, Gutierrez’s work at the Instituto Clodomero Picado (ICP) of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) on antivenom sera has saved many lives from snakebites. ICP’s vaccines are also having a significant impact in countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and South Sudan.
In 2017, his science diplomacy allowed the World Health Organization to add snakebite to its list of neglected diseases. Gutierrez’s work highlights the inseparability of science and culture. He believes that science, with its diversity of branches, is creativity and should not be separated from more humane or artistic culture.
Gutierrez, now 68 years old, believes that the Magón Prize recognizes the contribution of the broader group of people who have been working for decades to understand and solve the problem of snakebite poisoning. His award-winning work is proof that internal science and technology can solve societal problems.
The award is also a celebration of Gutierrez’s achievements, which he shares with his family, wife Irma Arguedas Negrini, and his children, Mauricio and Alberto, and his remembered brothers Estela and Joaquín.
Only a handful of scientists have received the Magón Prize over the years, and this recognition means a lot to Gutierrez.
The Importance of Society’s Appropriation of Science: An Interview with Magón Prize Winner José María Gutiérrez Gutierrez
José María Gutiérrez Gutierrez, a Doctor of Microbiology and the recent recipient of the Magón Prize, believes that science has a creative element that plays a fundamental role in creating equitable and supportive social environments. He emphasizes the importance of building bridges between science and technology and other branches of culture to achieve this goal.
Gutiérrez believes that science should be seen as a social good and something that society as a whole should belong to. He notes that achieving the appropriation of science by society is a massive undertaking that involves improving science education and communication. He asserts that the more science is appropriated by society, the more it can contribute to creating social environments that are equitable, supportive, diverse, and based on rational decision-making.
Gutiérrez also highlights the importance of bringing science closer to people without it being seen as something rude or inaccessible. He believes that science should be approached with amazement and skepticism, which are essential components of culture. He notes that every science must contribute to this approach, including social sciences.
Gutiérrez’s work with antivenom sera has saved many lives from snakebites, and he believes that this issue is not just a biological, biomedical, or technological problem, but also a social, public health management, and historical problem. He emphasizes the need for different disciplines to come together and build bridges to address complex societal problems.
Finally, Gutiérrez notes that the pandemic has reminded us of the importance of approaching problems in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary way. He believes that this approach will help the emergence of new scientific professions.
Gutiérrez’s motivation for his work in microbiology comes from his curiosity and his desire to make a difference from his home in San Francisco de dos Rios. His work highlights the inseparability of science and culture and the importance of society’s appropriation of science.
José María Gutiérrez Gutierrez, a Doctor of Microbiology and recent recipient of the Magón Prize, credits his childhood home for the encouragement he received to develop his interests. Since his school days, Gutiérrez has been interested in science, and in 1972, he realized that the Faculty of Microbiology at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) was a very dynamic research center. There, he found the right environment to pursue his dream of becoming a scientific researcher.
In the middle of his degree, Gutiérrez applied to work as an assistant at the Instituto Clodomero Picado (ICP). This was where he fell in love with science and technology and their social projection. The ICP’s work with antivenom sera has saved many lives from snakebites, and the vaccines are having a significant impact in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the problem is greatest for the most vulnerable and poorest sectors.
Gutiérrez notes that Costa Rica has a scientific system that has developed vaccines and a public health system with highly qualified professionals all over the country. However, public institutions, including the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) and public universities, have been weakened, which is necessary to ensure justice. Gutiérrez believes that this health system needs to be defended, and institutions must be strengthened.
Gutiérrez also emphasizes the importance of the One Health concept, which integrates human, veterinary, and ecosystem health. Snakes are another component of this ecosystem that needs to be known and learned how to live with. He believes that by knowing them and knowing how to mitigate the damages of the interaction, coexistence would be easier and less harmful.
Finally, Gutiérrez believes that receiving the Magón Prize is a great honor, and it reminds him to contribute his best to the country in the fields of science, higher education, social projects, and culture in general. Despite being retired for four years, Gutiérrez continues to develop his projects at the ICP and the UCR. He wants to continue giving back to culture through science.
Gutiérrez’s passion for science and its social projection highlights the importance of science education and communication to society. Costa Rica’s scientific system and public health system have made significant contributions to society, and it is necessary to defend and strengthen these institutions to ensure justice. Furthermore, the One Health concept provides a framework for integrating human, veterinary, and ecosystem health and learning to coexist with other components of the ecosystem, such as snakes.
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