Special Outreach PrizeCommendation for Scientific Communication

Winners

2nd edition

Maldita.es Food and Science Section

Maldita.es is a leading non-profit foundation in Spain specialising in fact-checking and the fight against disinformation. With over eight years’ experience, it combines data journalism, fact-checking and evidence-based communication, and contributes to the IFCN and EFCSN verification standards. Its ‘Maldita Alimentación’ section debunks hoaxes and myths about nutrition, analyses fad diets and answers members of the public’s queries via social media. Its content attracts around one million visits a year, and it takes part in European initiatives such as Infoodmation. It is coordinated by Laura García Merino, a science and health journalist with a track record at Agencia SINC and The Conversation Spain.

 

Aitor Sánchez (@midietacojea)

Aitor Sánchez García is a science outreach specialist, dietitian and nutritionist, and food technologist. He carried out research at the University of Granada, with periods spent at the Karolinska Institutet and the University of Bristol. Through his blog 'Mi dieta cojea', he has spent more than a decade debunking food myths via social media – where he has amassed over 500,000 followers – and popular science books. He contributes to RNE, RTVE and La Vanguardia, has given talks, has appeared in documentaries and advises food companies, always with the same approach: to translate scientific evidence into useful and understandable messages. He is currently studying for a PhD in Human Nutrition at the University of Granada and co-directs a nutrition centre.

 

1st edition

Cristina Saéz

For more than twenty years, Cristina Sáez has devoted her career to explaining how science influences our daily lives, particularly in terms of what we eat, how we look after ourselves, and how biomedical and nutritional research can improve our health. Sáez has been a constant presence in the country’s leading media outlets, combining scientific rigour with a human and approachable perspective. Throughout his career, she has been a regular contributor to La Vanguardia, where she has written features and interviews on gut microbiota, epigenetics, healthy ageing and the prevention of metabolic and oncological diseases. She has recently joined the newspaper Ara as science coordinator and combines this role with contributions to media outlets such as National Geographic, Agencia SINC, Gut Microbiota for Health and the CCCB Lab, amongst others. She maintains a constant focus across all her work: how our diet, lifestyle, and microbiota determine our health and wellbeing.

Beatriz Robles and Laura Caorsi

‘A la guerra con una cuchara’ (To War with a Spoon) is a food and health podcast that won an award at the first edition of the Accésit awards. Presented by dietitian and nutritionist Beatriz Robles and journalist Laura Caorsi, the programme goes beyond the usual dietary recommendations and examines how social, cultural and economic factors influence the way we eat. Both contribute to media outlets such as Maldita.es, RTVE, El Comidista, El País, Eroski Consumer and Revista Contexto, and have written and published books on food and health. In addition, Robles is a lecturer at Isabel I University in Burgos. Both are actively involved in outreach, training and institutional advisory work, and collaborate with public bodies and academic institutions to promote healthier, more mindful and sustainable eating.