Retriever Essentials, represented by student volunteers Nhi Nguyen ’25, biochemistry and bioinformatics, and Ben Bhattarai ’23, biology and psychology, is a second place finalist in the 2023 Wilbur Ellis Innovation Award. Announced at the end of September, the honorable mention award—given to only four schools—recognizes the student teams with the most innovative strategies for providing food for a growing world population.

Nguyen and Bhattarai’s proposal aimed to address the water scarcity in agriculture which affects the ability to feed a growing world population sustainably. Their project proposed the use of halophytic (salt-tolerant) algae to desalinate saltwater in order to increase freshwater availability to enhance agricultural yields and to create highly nutritious food products. Nguyen and Bhattarai believe their project also may help resolve some of the impacts of global warming on food production and transportation, including the growth of algae; limited fossil fuels; and ocean acidification due to high carbon dioxide. Both hope to continue their research into ways to eliminate food insecurity.

The $5,000 award for second place will be used to help buy food for the Retriever Essentials pantry, and help kickstart research on the algae, says Ariel Barbosa, program coordinator and a master’s student in community leadership.

The students’ work was a collaborative endeavor during the spring 2023 semester, with input from UMBC faculty in the sciences and public health: Lauren Clay, associate professor and chair, emergency health services; Erle Ellis, professor, geography and environmental systems; Andrea Kalfoglou, associate professor, sociology, anthropology, and public health; and Stephen Miller, associate professor, biological sciences. 

“We worked so hard on this proposal,” says Nguyen. “The contest was a chance to share my knowledge and creativity…to go out of our own bubbles and be confident with whatever we have to offer to help the community.” 

“Retriever Essentials is one of the most welcoming, friendly, hospitable places at UMBC, where I profoundly enlarge my connection to students, staff, and faculty,” Nguyen adds. “I feel thankful for being a part of UMBC, where I am surrounded by many brilliant and cool people, who always offer me not only academic help but also emotional support. Thus, I would recommend to UMBC students one thing: ASK.”

Bhattarai shares, “It is an exciting feeling to know that our project is being recognized for its potential in revolutionizing agriculture and in solving food insecurity. This experience also motivates us to continue our research in innovative ways. Volunteering with Retriever Essentials has been a great learning experience, to see the impact of food insecurity on campus and how a motivated teamwork and collaboration can make a difference in the community.”

 “I am so proud of our students and their commitment to Retriever Essentials—and to global food insecurity and injustice,” says Barbosa. “This award could not have come at a better time, as we see increased numbers of students and inflation increases the cost of food. Hundreds of students visit Retriever Essentials spaces each week, and we are often low in food.” 

Lacking a steady source of nutritious meals can affect students’ physical and mental health, grades, and ability to engage in campus life. Barbosa adds, “As more members of our community in need learn about us, we need increased financial support as well as donations of food and supplies. It is because of our university community and leadership that we have come this far to support so many students.”
Retriever Essentials is a faculty, staff, and student partnership to tackle food insecurity in our UMBC community. Learn how to make a financial donation or via the Amazon wish list, as well as volunteer opportunities.

-Eleanor Lewis, communications manager, Student Affairs

Next February, Jessica Novak, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in biological sciences, will pack her bags and relocate to the National Renewable Energy (NREL) Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. She’ll conduct research there through June with support from a competitive U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program Award.

At UMBC, Novak studies how the bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus breaks down complex carbohydrates with Jeffrey Gardner, associate professor of biological sciences. Unlike most other bacteria, C. japonicus can simultaneously break down a variety of sugar types, Novak explains, which makes it especially appealing for biofuels applications. At NREL, she plans to improve the understanding of how C. japonicus breaks down switchgrass, a bioenergy crop used to create bioethanol.

“The neat thing we’re going to look at is the rate Cellvibrio japonicus consumes different sugars that are in switchgrass, so that will help us better characterize its metabolic capabilities,” Novak says. NREL’s equipment and established protocols will be particularly helpful for that analysis, she adds.

Her time at NREL “will also train me in some of the biochemical analyses that I’m going to do back at UMBC,” she says. “I think the results we’re going to get from this fellowship will spark new ideas.”

Little steps toward big goals

The fellowship is an exciting step for Novak, who is a self-identified “planner.” Her interest in biofuels began in an undergraduate molecular genetics class at Salisbury University, where the professor talked about using algae as biofuels. “I knew eight years ago that I wanted to try out NREL,” she says, “and I’ve been taking little steps to make that happen.”

After finishing her bachelor’s, Novak worked at a company detecting biological threats in environmental samples. When she was ready to start her Ph.D., she connected with Gardner based on his research interests. She carefully selected an interdisciplinary thesis committee, which includes Brandon Knott, a chemical engineer at NREL. The DoE fellowship requires a co-mentor at the destination laboratory, and Knott will fill that role for Novak. Novak will also work with NREL scientists Violeta Sànchez and Alissa Bleem.

“I put so much time and effort into planning out my life and what I wanted to happen,” Novak says. “It’s just incredible that it’s starting to work out that way. I’m absolutely ecstatic. I cannot wait.”

Using bacteria to make things better

Novak’s trajectory hasn’t been a simple beeline to a career in biofuels. In Gardner’s lab, Novak has been studying a different bacterium that breaks down plastic alongside her work on C. japonicus. Those experiences ignited her interest in bioremediation—a process that uses organisms like plants or microbes to remove toxins from the environment.

Now, she says, “I’m really interested in how we can use bacteria to break down man-made errors,” both literally and figuratively. “They just evolve so quickly to adapt to our faults. I really love the idea of utilizing that to repair our environment.”

Novak’s current plan is to finish her Ph.D. by summer 2025, and then pursue a postdoc in industry focused on bioremediation.

A new turning point

Gardner has supported Novak’s goals along the way. “He is so supportive and so encouraging of us bettering ourselves,” Novak says. “I’ve expressed that appreciation to him, and he always says, ‘It’s my job to support you and help you be as prepared as you can be leaving here.’ He takes that to heart—he’s just been remarkable.”

“I’m extremely proud of Jessie for winning this DOE fellowship,” Gardner shares. “She has done outstanding graduate work, and her time at NREL will not only advance her thesis research, but also help develop her professional network and provide opportunities for career mentoring. Additionally, the skills she brings back and shares with the lab will expand what we are able to do at UMBC.”

Novak expects her NREL fellowship to be another turning point in her career journey.

“I have loved what NREL does for a long time, so I am really hoping to meet some people there and see what they do on the industry side of research,” Novak says. “The fellowship gives me a chance to peek into that and progress my research at the same time, which will help me figure out what I want to do moving forward.”

Meet Noah Cruz, a senior pursuing B.S. degrees in both psychology and biological sciences on the pre-med/Ph.D. track. As a first generation student and a member of multiple scholars programs, Noah takes part in student organizations and undergraduate research while also following his passions of advocating for underrepresented students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. We can’t wait to see where Noah goes from here, and we’re excited to share his story.

Q: Tell us about yourself. What would you want another Retriever to know about you?

A: I am a senior concurrently pursuing dual bachelor of science degrees in psychology and biological sciences, complemented by minors in chemistry and photography on the Pre-M.D./Ph.D. track. I take pride in being a first-generation Salvadoran American student, and I am a strong advocate for underrepresented students in STEM. I am from Rockville, Maryland, and went to Northwood High School where I earned my associates degree and high school diploma concurrently.

I am also one out of 200,000 patients with a rare blood disorder called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Idiopathic means “of unknown cause.” This highlights the importance of bridging the gap within the immunological field of research, and drives me toward pursuing a career in the biomedical sciences!

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: There are numerous individuals who come to mind, and I am truly grateful for their unwavering support throughout my academic journey. Among them, Dr. Jacqueline King stands out as a cornerstone of support in my experience at UMBC. She has not only served as my advisor but has also been my steadfast advocate and personal cheerleader for all my accomplishments. Her inspiration has propelled me forward on the challenging path of higher education.

Another significant supporter of my aspirations is Dr. Charles Bieberich. His unwavering support, mentorship, and profound knowledge of the scientific field have been instrumental in motivating me to pursue my M.D./Ph.D. journey. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Diana Hamilton. She not only supervises my principles of chemistry teaching assistantship but also provides unwavering support for all my academic pursuits.

Additionally, I must express my gratitude to Dr. Sarah Leupen for her invaluable support in my academic endeavors. Each of these individuals saw potential in me that I often failed to recognize within myself. As a first-generation student navigating the complexities of higher education, their investment in my education—offering support, mentorship, and words of encouragement—has made an indelible impact on my journey. I cannot express my appreciation enough for their contributions to my academic success.

Q: What do you love most about your academic program or an organization you’re involved in?

A: UMBC’s psychology and biology departments have played a pivotal role in shaping my academic journey, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the invaluable resources and experiences they have provided me. One of the aspects I truly love about this academic program is the seamless integration of interdisciplinary approaches within the psychology and biology departments. One of the standout features of this program is how it effectively connects the dots between neuroscience, behavioral pathology, genetics, and biology.

This holistic approach has not only broadened my horizons but has also allowed me to harness the power of knowledge across these fields to enhance my own research. Whether it’s understanding the intricacies of brain function or delving into the biological underpinnings of behavior, UMBC’s program has provided me with a well-rounded education that I can leverage in my academic pursuits.

Currently, I am fortunate to be involved in neuroscience clinical research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The foundation laid by UMBC’s program has been instrumental in my ability to contribute effectively to this research. The skills, knowledge, and interdisciplinary perspective I gained from my time in UMBC’s psychology and biology departments have proven to be a significant advantage in my work at the School of Medicine.

Q: Since you’ve been a part of the UMBC community, how have you found support of your WHY?

A: During my time at UMBC, Peter DeCrescenzo played an indispensable role in jumpstarting my academic and career journey. As a newcomer to the university and a Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholar, I was initially unaware of the vast opportunities and resources available to me in the field of biomedical research and academia. Peter’s guidance and support proved to be transformative in several ways. Firstly, he provided me with invaluable guidance on crafting a compelling resume—a crucial tool in presenting myself as a competitive candidate for various academic and research endeavors.

Additionally, Peter equipped me with the skills necessary to create engaging and informative poster presentations, an asset that would prove indispensable in showcasing my research projects. He also encouraged me to explore and apply to other scholars’ programs, ultimately leading to my acceptance into the U-RISE Program, a significant milestone in my academic journey.

Overall, Peter’s unwavering support and mentorship initiated a pathway to academic excellence that I had never imagined. His guidance not only imparted practical skills but also instilled in me the confidence to pursue my academic goals. Peter DeCrescenzo’s dedication to my growth at UMBC made a profound difference in my academic journey and played a pivotal role in shaping my career in biomedical research and academia.

Q: What clubs, teams, or organizations are you a part of? What do you love about them and why?

A: I am an active member of two significant organizations at UMBC, and each role holds special meaning for me. Firstly, as the Meyerhoff Scholars lead peer advisor, I have the incredible opportunity to serve as a mentor and guide to incoming first-year and sophomore students, assisting them as they embark on their college journey. What I truly cherish about this role is the chance to share my own experiences and knowledge with these students, offering them valuable insights and personal support to succeed academically and personally.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a lead peer advisor is assisting students with their applications for scholarships, internships, and research positions. I am deeply passionate about helping students navigate the intricate and competitive application procedures, ensuring that underrepresented minority students are consistently represented in science-related settings.

Secondly, my role as vice president of the Society of Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) holds a special place in my heart. SACNAS is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, and as VP, I play a pivotal role in building a supportive community for underrepresented students. Organizing events, creating networking opportunities, and collaborating with like-minded individuals to advance our mission is both fulfilling and impactful. It’s inspiring to see students from diverse backgrounds come together to pursue their passions in science while breaking down barriers and stereotypes.

Q: As a first-generation college student, what would you tell others who are in your shoes about UMBC?

A: Navigating the world of secondary education, especially as the first in my family to graduate high school and attend college, was undoubtedly an intimidating and overwhelming experience. One piece of advice I would offer to others in my shoes about UMBC is the critical importance of building a solid support system. Throughout my college journey, I found that my advisors and supporters played a pivotal role in my success.

These mentors believed in me from day one, providing guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging on campus. Having a support system is like having a lifeline when facing the myriad challenges that college life can present. They can offer valuable insights into academic decisions, personal development, and even career choices. Advisors and mentors can help you navigate the complexities of course selection, major choices, and extracurricular activities, ensuring that you make informed decisions that align with your goals.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Having a proper balance of proteins in our cells—the right kinds and the right number, depending on the cell type—is critical for optimal health. The proteins also need to avoid “misfolding”—contorting into shapes that prevent them from doing their jobs. It’s normal for proteins to misfold here and there, and there are mechanisms in cells to destroy aberrant proteins. But sometimes these systems fail. They also worsen as we age.

Protein misfolding “underlies a lot of diseases and aging,” says Erin Green, associate professor of biological sciences. In particular, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s can be tied to a buildup of misfolded proteins.   

In Green’s lab, she and her students are studying cellular pathways that may help maintain the balance of healthy proteins in a cell, a state called “proteostasis.” A deeper understanding of how cells protect healthy proteins and get rid of damaged ones may eventually lead to improved treatments for diseases caused by protein misfolding.

Now, a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences will help the group build on work from a previous grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and add further detail to the role of particular enzymes involved in proteostasis.

Building discovery on discovery

With the NIA support, Green’s group discovered that the enzyme Set6 is important for maintaining protein balance in cells of budding yeast, a model organism. Set6 and other proteins in the same family are closely related to human enzymes in the SMYD gene family. Set6 adds methyl groups, small molecules made up of three carbon atoms and a hydrogen atom, to the amino acid lysine in proteins. These methyl groups can affect how proteins function.

“All of the machinery in yeast is very similar to in humans, and we have lots of tools for genetic and molecular manipulation in yeast,” Green explains. “You can do the same things in human cells, but it works much more rapidly and is simplified in yeast.”

After identifying the relevant enzyme, the team found molecules they believe Set6 interacts with. Now they’d like to confirm the interactions they identified, and then explore how they are controlled and their functions—all of which is unknown.

“There’s not a single published paper on Set6. Our goal is to uncover what I think will be a new function for this set of enzymes,” Green says. “Then we can apply that knowledge to investigating whether or not any of the human proteins have a similar role in human cells.”

If there’s a match with a human enzyme, then that would open the door to further work seeking to “keep proteostasis intact longer, and potentially prevent conversion into a disease state,” Green says.

Students lead the way

Luke Mason, a third-year Ph.D. student in Green’s lab, will take a leading role in the new project. He’ll be joined by a new graduate student supported by the NIH grant. “Set6 is upregulated under stressful conditions,” particularly a lack of nitrogen, Mason says. “I’m trying to figure out the specific interactions of Set6 and what it does.”

He has also found a home in Green’s lab. “It’s an environment that’s very conducive to teamwork,” Mason says. “People are always willing to share knowledge, skill sets, and really anything to help each other out.” That support is particularly valuable when knowledge about the enzymes they are investigating is still so limited, he adds.

Winny Sun, a Ph.D. student in her fourth year with Green’s lab, will be less directly involved in the new project, but her previous work on the related protein Set4 helped pave the way for this new direction. She studies Set4 under oxygen deprivation—a different kind of stress. Sun developed techniques for working with proteins that are only detectable under stress, and now Mason will apply them to the Set6 enzyme work.

Nurturing research leaders

“Erin provides a lot of opportunities to grow as a scientist,” Sun says. One Green Lab  member completed an internship at biotech firm Genentech and another traveled to France to work with a collaborator, Sun says, adding that she has had opportunities to present at NIH conferences.

Oluwaseun Kintunde ’25, biological sciences, also appreciates working with Green. After her initial interview, she remembers thinking, “This is someone who I want to continue to mentor me, because she is so easy to talk to.” She has also received mentorship from the graduate students in the lab. “I can talk to Winny about anything,” Kintunde shares.

Green prioritizes mentoring her students, and works directly with both her graduate and undergraduate lab members. She knows a research career, whether in academia or industry, comes with successes alongside setbacks, so, she says, “The idea is to send them off into the world with the skill set that they need to deal with all the challenges they may face.”

Uncovering new biology

As the team forges ahead, the overall goal is to develop a molecular understanding of how Set6 contributes to proteostasis, Green says. That includes confirming what molecules it interacts with and exploring what biological pathways it may control. The group’s discovery of the enzyme’s response to stress is especially intriguing.

“There’s a ton of open questions, and I feel like there’s a lot of new biology to uncover there,” Green says. Given the SET family proteins’ implications for prevalent diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration, she adds, “If we can define at the molecular level how it’s working in yeast, there’s a lot of applications moving forward for broadening the research.”

Meet Ting Huang ’21, psychology, program coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program in the Office of Academic Opportunity Programs where she was previously a scholar. Ting is now in a position where she gets to support the UMBC community the same way, she says, it supported her. Let’s see what she has to share!

Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you?

A: I’m a UMBC McNair alum and my undergraduate field of study was psychology. I’m currently the interim program coordinator for UMBC McNair, and it has been a very meaningful, full circle moment for me to come back and serve students in the same boat as myself just two years ago.

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone to know about the support you find at UMBC?

A: Don’t hesitate to reach out. It can be daunting to try to find community, particularly on a campus where you may not know which communities are safe or supportive of you. But UMBC has many wonderful scholarly programs and clubs that celebrate different parts of each person’s identities. Community is just a step away from you.

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: So many people in the UMBC community have inspired and supported me, but especially my mentors at UMBC-Shady Grove and my McNair family. Each person I’ve encountered has dedicated their time to academic excellence and uplifting the voices of those who are traditionally unheard (first-gen, low-income, underrepresented individuals). Their advocacy and passion inspires me to pursue intersectional research and do my best to support my scholars. I love the sense of community that we’ve cultivated in McNair. Although I was away for two years, I was quickly welcomed back into the family when I took on my new role. Even though I am the program coordinator, I feel that my students inspire me to strive for excellence through the amazing things they do.

Q: What brought you to UMBC in the first place? 

A: I came to UMBC because of the strong sense of community I had experienced second-hand before beginning my undergraduate career here. I had heard from my cousin (UMBC alum Rose Li ’16, M.P.S. ’21) and visiting faculty about the freedom that UMBC students have in exploring their passions and undergraduate research, and decided that an undergraduate career here would be most beneficial for me. As a staff member, the McNair connections I made pulled me back to UMBC after earning my master’s. I was excited to come back to a community that supported me even though I was at another institution.

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?

A: Talking to scholars! It’s truly inspiring to listen to my scholars’ aspirations as they will be the future leaders of the world. It’s exciting to hear about the changes that the students want to make so that those from similar backgrounds to ours can receive ample support before entering higher ed.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

This week UMBC was named as one of four institutions chosen to work together on a National Science Foundation-funded project to establish a new science educational center at the Arecibo Observatory site in Puerto Rico. NSF will contribute more than $5 million over five years to establish the multidisciplinary center, called the Arecibo Center for Culturally Relevant and Inclusive Science Education, Computational Skills, and Community Engagement (Arecibo C3).

The center is expected to open in early 2024 and will include a research laboratory and a hands-on, interactive science center open to the public.

Patricia Ordóñez (Photo courtesy of Patricia Ordóñez)

Patricia Ordóñez,M.S. ’10, Ph.D. ’12, computer science, an associate professor in information systems, will lead UMBC’s contributions to the project. As part of the Arecibo C3 collaboration, Ordóñez is organizing a Women in Data Science Puerto Rico conference, as well as several workshops in data science that will be held both online and in person. One of the workshops will prepare attendees to participate in the 2024 Women in Data Science Worldwide datathon. Other workshops will recruit mothers and daughters to learn coding together, and will teach new skills to women and other participants who already code.

Several UMBC graduate and undergraduate students and staff members have been involved in developing and testing the workshop materials.

“My passion has always been to increase the number of Latinas in computing,” says Ordóñez, who, before joining the faculty of UMBC, was a member of the computer science department at the University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras. “There are too few of us in the field—creating inclusive programs from Arecibo C3 will help us bridge that gap.”

The other grant awardees are Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, and the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. In addition to data science programming, Arecibo C3 will offer a suite of activities, including explorations of biodiversity and how to identify species using short segments of DNA. The Arecibo C3 team will also advance research to explore how STEM teaching can be enhanced through the presentation of data in audio, tactile, and other sensory forms, to increase accessibility.

“The new educational center builds on the great scientific, educational, and cultural legacy of the Arecibo Observatory and is closely aligned with NSF’s goal to create STEM opportunities everywhere,” said James L. Moore III, NSF assistant director for STEM Education, in a press release. “The center aims to create new opportunities for STEM education, exploration, discovery, engagement and participation of students, scientists and researchers in various STEM disciplines ranging from astronomy and radio science to biological, computer and natural sciences in Puerto Rico and beyond.”

Ordóñez credits the talents of the whole Arecibo C3 team with turning what feels like a dream of hers into a reality. “We recognize the responsibility of what we are doing and we are going to work very hard to create the environment of inclusive excellence in Arecibo that everyone deserves, so that everyone sees they have a place in STEM,” she says.

For updates on the project, please visit the Arecibo C3 website.

COVID forced employees away from traditional offices to home offices, making working from home no longer the exception. Before the pandemic, work-from-home proponents advocated a more flexible work week/space to give employees a better work-life balance. Has this proven to be true? As some employers try to find incentives to bring their teams back to cubicles and open-plan workspaces, the argument about which setup gives a better work-life balance continues. 

UMBC’s Elizabeth Patton, associate professor of media and communication studies and author of Easy Living: The Rise of the Home Office (Rutgers University Press, 2020), is very familiar with this argument. “Through my research, it has become evident that the issue of balancing work and life, and the integration of work into the home, has a deep-rooted history and continues to be a challenge we face today,” Patton explains to Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and host of The Academic Minute, a daily show featuring faculty from colleges and universities worldwide speaking about their cutting-edge research.

UMBC’s Academic Minute takeover week

Patton joined five UMBC scholars this fall in UMBC’s first Academic Minute Takeover Week, featuring the latest research in philosophy; modern languages, linguistics, and intercultural communication; language, literacy, and culture; and history. The episode was republished by NPR podcasts and Inside Higher Ed.

Learn more about Patton’s research

1. Living: The Rise of the Home Office (Rutgers University Press, 2020)
2. Race and the Suburbs in American Film (SUNY University Press, 2021)
3. Mediapolis: JA Journal of Cities and
4. UMBC humanities faculty receive NEH fellowships for research into “the why and how of our past”
5. Media Crossroads: Intersections of Space and Identity in Screen Cultures (Duke University Press, 2021)

Learn more about UMBC’s media and communication studies program.

Written by Erin K Hogan, associate professor of Spanish, UMBC and Maria Garcia-Puente, California State University, San Bernardino.

Amid expressions of outrage and disgust over a nonconsensual kiss between the male head of Spanish soccer and a Women’s World Cup-winning player, there was also laughter.

Luis Rubiales, the now ex-president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and former vice-president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), was forced to resign from those leadership positions as a result of the forced kiss on Aug. 20, 2023, which took place in front of a packed stadium in Australia and a global audience. He is also under investigation by prosecutors in Spain for sexual assault and coercion.

Throughout the high-stakes and painful drama – which dominated Spanish media for weeks on end – there were jokes. The Rubiales kiss became fodder for internet memes, skits by comedians on Spanish TV, as well as many cartoons in national and international newspapers.

As scholars of Iberian cultures and gender representation, we know that humor, much like soccer, is a national pastime in Spain. Moreover, Rubiales’ forced kiss of Jenni Hermoso, a member of Spain’s World Cup-winning team, provided a perfect example of the role that comedy can play in unmasking and highlighting structural sexism.

The humor of incongruity

Humor is a social act that reflects human experience and, more to the point here, human folly.

In “Punchlines: The Case for Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Humor,” social psychologist Leon Rappoport explains that, among other reasons, we laugh at incongruity. Humor is employed, Rappoport observes, to shed light on something “clearly absurd or contradictory.”

This appears to be the basis of much of the laughter in the Rubiales case. His outlandish, unexpected and unwanted gestures – not only the kiss, but also grabbing his crotch while cheering the Spanish women on to their first World Cup win – certainly came across as incongruous.

Much of the humor poked fun at Rubiales directly. While one editorial cartoon published in the digital newspaper El Español envisioned him as the Spanish counterpart of Donald Trump, he was widely mocked across the media in posts that compared him to a brutish Homer Simpson.

The former UEFA vice president wasn’t the only person to be lampooned. His mother – with her stranger-than-fiction hunger strike demanding his exoneration – also opened herself up to ridicule. Rubiales’ many supporters at the RFEF couldn’t escape the farce-fest either. Even those who eventually turned on him were ridiculed, with one editorial cartoon portraying them as rats abandoning Rubiales’ sinking Titanic ship.

But some of the jokes called attention to bigger issues. Rubiales’ sexism on display at a major sporting event did not reflect well on the country’s international reputation, especially at a time when it is bidding to co-host the 2030 Men’s World Cup. A humorist from the national newspaper El Mundo proposed that a crotch-grabbing Rubiales be adopted as the next World Cup official mascot.

A sexist laughingstock

Such use of comedy takes a page from the book “A Comedian and an Activist Walk Into a Bar,” in which authors Caty Borum Chattoo and Lauren Feldman discuss how humor can be used as a means to unify, guide public discourse, and inspire action.

It would be too much to claim that the jokes cracked during the fallout of Rubiales’ behavior led to his eventual resignation on Sept. 10. But the humor in this case helped amplify public debate and inspired action to confront structural sexism in Spain and beyond.

An example of how it did this can be seen in a parody reenactment of Rubiales’ kiss posted on the social media accounts of a self-fashioned amateur writer who goes by the online name @LolaLaMonyos.

In the sketch, two women impersonate Rubiales and Hermoso and stage the kiss, as recounted by Rubiales in his public appearance before the RFEF’s general assembly. At the Aug. 25 gathering, he did not resign as some had expected. Instead, he defended his “peck” as consensual and positioned himself against both “false feminism” and gender inclusive language.

“When Jenni first showed up, she lifted me up from the ground. She grabbed me by the hips, by the legs, I don’t remember well. … She lifted me up from the ground – and we almost fell down.

“Then the peck happened during all of this celebration, with her patting me on the side a few times and then excusing herself with one more hand on the side and going off laughing,” he added.

Those words, set over the spoof reenactment, highlight just how nonsensical Rubiales’ imaginative interpretation is. Furthermore, the mismatch of his male voice and the two female bodies in the video points at the pervasive silencing of women and sexist double standards. Since being posted on X, the platform formally known as Twitter, the sketch has been viewed almost 650,000 times.

Taking a somewhat different comedic approach, the popular Spanish satirical TV program “El Intermedio” recast the events in the style of a wildlife documentary. With the title “This turned out so ‘cute’” – a play on the Spanish word “mono,” which can mean “monkey” or “cute” – the skit uses a collage of monkey clips accompanied by an authoritative male voice-over. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xEwNAyxiiRY?wmode=transparent&start=0

Funny though it is, there are also serious points being made. The writers of the sketch place the audience in a position of evolved superiority to Rubiales – reveling in the idiocy of the mockumentary’s subject.

What’s more, the piece suggests that Rubiales’ worldview and values are archaic and represent a step back in the fight for gender equality.

We would also argue that the video invites the audience to question patriarchal structures as being synonymous with the advancement of civilization. To us, the message implied is that society needs to redefine such assumptions. A world in which we can excuse harassment, sexual abuse, coercion or discrimination is incompatible with an aspiring civilized society.

None of these humorous responses to the scandal diminish the seriousness of the Rubiales incident, nor the debate they sparked. Rather, they have helped frame the way in which discussions have played out in Spain.

For Rubiales, #itsover

There is no doubt that the recriminations against Rubiales mark a tipping point in Spain’s reckoning with abuses of power related to sexual assault and broader gender inequality. For good reason, the hashtag #seacabó – translating to #itsover – has continued to trend since the scandal, after the term was directed at Rubiales by Spanish soccer star Alexia Putellas. Putellas, a two-time winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or Féminin and Best FIFA Women’s Player, affirmed in December 2021: “True victory will be when there is 100% equal opportunity for boys and girls in sports and in the world.”

The implications of the Rubiales tragicomedy have been sweeping and are still developing. It has allowed Spain, and inspired others, to confront discriminatory practices within and beyond the soccer field.

But is it also a laughing matter? We argue yes – because a sense of humor allows us to make sense of incongruities, confront them as a group, and advance toward social change.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article and see more than 250 UMBC articles available in The Conversation.