CMU postdoctoral researcher earns global recognition in UNESCO science communication competition

Central Michigan University postdoctoral researcher Violeta Martinez earned international recognition after placing third in the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s global Short Talks, Big Impacts competition. The international event highlights emerging scientists who can communicate complex research in ways that connect with audiences beyond the laboratory.

Hosted by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), a program unit of UNESCO, the competition brings together researchers from around the world to present scientific work with real-world relevance in a concise and engaging format. Martinez’s award-winning presentation focused on one of the most urgent environmental and public health challenges facing her home country of El Salvador: the presence of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, plasticizers and other commercial chemicals in drinking water and surface water sources.

Martinez said her research began in 2023 through a collaboration with researchers at University of Arizona and has since expanded into the development of new technologies aimed at addressing water contamination more effectively. At CMU, she is advancing the next phase of that work under the guidance of Itzel Márquez, a CMU faculty member, with the goal of creating practical scientific solutions that directly benefit communities affected by water pollution.

“My presentation was about my research, which focuses on the detection of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, plasticizers and other commercial chemicals in Salvadoran drinking and surface water sources,” Martinez said. “Now I am moving to the phase of developing new technology to tackle this issue.”

For Martinez, entering the competition was about more than presenting scientific findings.

“I believe that science has more value if we are able to take it out of the lab and catch the interest of more people,” she said. “In that way, science not only helps us discover new things, but also builds new paths.”

That focus on science communication helped her stand out on an international stage, where researchers were judged on both scientific merit and their ability to explain impact clearly.

When Martinez learned she had placed third worldwide, she said the recognition brought both joy and a renewed sense of responsibility.

“I felt incredibly honored and happy but also committed to keep working for my local community,” she said. “I am sure that I won because of all the support of my students in El Salvador, my peers, friends and also my research groups. I felt very grateful to them and also very indebted because I still need to consolidate my role not only as scientist but also as science communicator.”

The award includes funding that will allow Martinez to attend a scientific conference of her choice, creating new opportunities to share her research and expand international collaborations.

“This award will allow me to attend any scientific conference of my choice, so I will be able to share with the scientific community all the work that I have been conducting since 2025,” she said. “The award will also bring more recognition to my research group, and I am sure that there will be more opportunities to come for other students.”

Martinez credited several mentors, collaborators, and institutions for supporting both the research and the presentation. She recognized Eduardo Sáez of the University of Arizona, Márquez at CMU, and members of their research groups, including Doorae Lee, Ibrahim Alyami and Henry Menendez.

She also thanked her students at Universidad Centroamericana, along with support from the Early Career Fellowship of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World and the Faculty for the Future Fellowship from Schlumberger Foundation, which supports her postdoctoral position at CMU.

Martinez also credited CMU professor John Gustincic with helping refine her presentation and strengthen how she delivered her message to an international audience.

The recognition highlights Martinez’s scientific contributions and the international reach of research underway at CMU, particularly work aimed at solving environmental challenges that affect communities across borders.