10 green questions to… Dani Pellicer
It's been a year now since Dani accompanied us at one of the Jardí Botànic's summer classics that wasn't held this year, 'Ciencia al fresco' (‘Science in the cool’), and he did it as he knows how, with a smile and providing lots of interesting information. He has a Master's in Biomedical Biotechnology, but what he's really into is outreach, that's why he sits at the keyboard and writes, and gets on the microphone and... does monologues! Because science can be fun, and beautiful, that was the motto of the talk we asked for and he talked to us about organ donation, a beautiful action if ever there was one. And since we can't stop, we've also asked him to answer our Espores test, and he's opened up, and now we know that last summer we weren't wrong, because science is beautiful, but so is he.
What is your first memory of nature?
Well, it’s a bit complicated, I think my first memory in nature is at a farm school in Godelleta, where I went with school. I remember lots of goats, donkeys and other animals and having a fantastic time. But I don’t know if this counts, given that in the end it’s a man-made environment. Another memory I have is from the Vall de Gallinera region, a fantastic itinerary dotted with villages like La Carroja, Benialí or Benissili.
If I look into your house, the plant I’ll never find is…
Right now, unfortunately, a living one. I currently live in Zaragoza in a flat with very little light. But between events, trips and other things, I’m hardly ever at home. Therefore, the plants I’ve tried to have, have died either from lack of water or from the 40-degree summer heat. That said, at my parents’ house there are lots of plants, from typical indoor ones to a ficus.
Which of the 4 R’s do you practise most: reduce, reuse, recycle or recover?
Well, it would be between recycling and reducing, I couldn’t tell you. Lately I’ve been adopting actions like taking my own tupperware to the butcher’s and fishmonger’s to reduce the use of plastic trays, refilling many bottles and trying to buy in bulk whenever I can. When I have to buy packaging no matter what, I always try to recycle them. Also, at parties or gatherings I’m always the annoying one who separates (and tells others to separate) waste like cans and plastic cups from the rest.
A plant smell you hate and one that fascinates you
I wouldn’t say I hate it, but boiled cabbage is quite unpleasant. Plus, it’s one of those smells that gets stuck in your nose and won’t go away. As for one that fascinates me, that of the plant known as ‘night jasmine’. When I was a kid we had one at the beach house, and since we always left Valencia on Friday afternoon, we arrived there at dusk, just when the flowers opened. Since then, I’ve associated the smell with arriving home.
Your unconfessable phobia when you go to the countryside
The unconfessable one can’t be confessed, but among the confessable ones: encountering big dogs off the lead. As a kid I was bitten by quite a big dog, and every time I see one, no matter how friendly it is, at first I always freeze. Then I get over it.
If we rummage through your wardrobe, will we find hiking boots?
Of course, I have fantastic waterproof boots that have accompanied me on the summits of all the mountains. Also special are reinforced socks.
“Herbero” (homemade liqueur made from herbs), “romer a la paella” (“rosemary in the pan”), thyme infusion, common sowthistle… What is your favourite #plantagastronòmica (gastronomic plant)?
Well, a difficult question because I love gastronomy and especially that of our land. Rosemary is very good for many dishes, but I think if I have to choose just one, oregano. My mother’s macaroni wouldn’t be the same without this herb.
Awaken your botanical vein: which of these options is not a plant?
- Eichhornia crassipes
- Pulex irritans
- Araujia sericifera
You’ve caught me. Scientific names and taxonomy are not my strong point. I think I’m going to say b, but if I get it right it will be pure chance.
Note from Espores: Dani isn’t as green as he says! He got it right, b is the flea. The other two are two invasive plants.
Climate change has already knocked on our door, are we too late?
This question is very complicated, I consider that climate change is not a “yes or no”. Everything points to the fact that the limit that had been set of not exceeding 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is not realistic and that we will exceed it soon. Now, it’s not that once exceeded it’s over, it’s finished. If we exceed 1.5 the goal will be not to reach 1.6, then 1.7… It’s not that we’re late, it’s that we must mitigate its effects to the minimum possible, be it 1.5 or 2 degrees.
3 things you would take to a Botanical Garden
The mobile phone and tripod to take photos, a booklet that explains all the species and my partner, as I can’t think of a better couple’s plan than going to enjoy nature.
