Laura Bacete Cano Joins Sveriges Unga Akademi, Aiming to Elevate Plant Research

Laura Bacete Cano, a lecturer at Umeå University and leader at the Umeå Plant Science Centre, has been appointed as a new member of Sveriges unga akademi (Sweden's Young Academy). This appointment allows her to shape the future of the academic landscape while emphasizing the crucial role of research in plant cell and molecular biology, particularly in understanding how plants perceive and maintain their cell walls during growth and environmental stress.

Cano views her election as both a professional and personal milestone, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration with other researchers. She pointed out the lack of representation from her field within the academy, underscoring the importance of plant cell and molecular biology in addressing essential issues such as sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation. As part of her new role, she is expected to participate in national meetings, influencing policy discussions and outreach initiatives.

Since joining Umeå University in 2023, after completing her PhD in 2018 and a postdoc at NTNU in Trondheim, Cano has gained substantial research funding from both Norway and Sweden and is involved in innovative projects, including a European patent for enhancing plant health and resilience. Additionally, she aims to improve her Swedish language skills to facilitate her work, as the academy primarily operates in Swedish, although English is allowed when necessary. Cano is dedicated to promoting scientific communication and advocating for the integration of evidence-based approaches in policy-making.