Biography

My specialty is Quaternary palynology, and I have broad interests in the evolution and paleoecology of plants. In recent years, I have worked on the links between human evolution and ecological change, focusing on the Mediterranean Basin, especially Neanderthal sites and early European Homo. I am also developing a new holistic research line in paleoart with an emphasis on flora and vegetation, the often overlooked elements.

Born in 1962 in Jumilla, I am the son of Carmen and Bartolomé, who overcame humble beginnings to ensure their children received a university education. I belong to a lineage persecuted under Franco's dictatorship. Obviously, this is not a merit but rather very bad luck, yet it likely shaped my persistent temperament and my scientific life, which has been a continuous struggle against the current, facing elements more powerful than my own capacity, physical condition, available time, and intelligence, as hunger – and marginalization – are only a generation away. So, from an early age, I balanced secondary and university studies with manual jobs, mainly as a farm laborer, a teacher of whatever was needed, and a bricklayer.

My scientific career began after earning a degree in Biology, driven by a passion for fieldwork. I secured a research fellowship to develop Quaternary palynology, overcoming infrastructure challenges by acquiring the necessary resources. During my doctoral research on cave palynology, I also explored pollen and spore morphology, leading to collaborations in taxonomy and bryology. At that time, I became somewhat proficient in handling both transmission and scanning electron microscopes, and I learned photography and development techniques, which now remain only for a handful of nostalgics or vintage courses for idle people.

In the 1990s, I passed up opportunities in the UK and South Africa to stay close to my daughter, anchoring my career at the University of Murcia. In 1994, I began focusing on coprolite analysis, arid-zone palynology, and non-pollen microfossils, leading to research in Amsterdam and South Africa in 1996, which deepened my ecological perspective. My time in South Africa, reminiscent of a Pleistocene Mediterranean, along with paleoart projects, enriched my interdisciplinary teaching. I also pioneered the Plant Evolution course at the University of Murcia, becoming the first Professor in this field in Spain.

Much of my career has also been dedicated to scientific evaluation, from editorial work and international peer review to leading national research programs. From the beginning, I've been driven by principles later formalized in the DORA declaration (2012): fair assessment of quality work, regardless of institutional prestige, personal fame, origin, gender, or any other condition. As an editor, I have been deeply rewarded by the warm recognition from authors in countries facing significant challenges in scientific research. As a research manager, I've also found fulfillment, though holistic evaluation has never been easy.

I have occasionally served as a columnist, poet, and essayist. I am deeply appreciative of the recognition and affection from my students, which I consider a professional blessing. However, I have faced physical challenges, including Crohn's Disease and Oromandibular Dystonia. Dystonia left me temporarily unable to speak and with difficulties eating during 2012-13, which significantly reduced my independent scientific output and ability to give lectures. Since then, I have sometimes struggled with verbal expression, particularly in languages other than my native tongue, and I have lost some hearing. Fortunately, I was born with a sanguine temperament, allowing me to channel this physical suffering as an opportunity to transform my daily life, focusing on quality over quantity and embracing a more natural pace of work, rather than being caught up in an increasingly relentless busyness.