During International Day for Women and Girls in Science, we’re talking to some of the inspiring women scientists who are making their marks at Nutreco. “Shrimp doctor” Diva Aldama Cano works at Skretting LATAM in Ecuador. She talks about how science has taken her all over the world, letting her satisfy her love of riddles and challenges, and shares some weird and interesting facts about shrimp!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your role in Nutreco
I am from the north of Mexico, but I consider myself a citizen of the world, since I have been able to live, study and work on different continents. I am currently working as a health manager for Skretting LATAM, which, in a few words, means I am a shrimp doctor.
What inspired you to pursue a career in science?
I have always been curious about how things work, about riddles and everything that involves solving a mystery. Coming from a family where education was encouraged above all things, science was an easy choice for me. When I was little, I realized that I liked challenges and getting out of the routine and, for me, science is a challenge.
Can you share a moment in your career that made you feel especially proud?
Yes, when I defended my Ph.D. with an international evaluation committee. I had to do an online presentation in two countries with totally different languages and to act as my own translator for my evaluators in Mexico and Asia. I feel that being able to defend my work and research in two languages simultaneously was a great achievement.
How do you hope your work will influence the scientific community and the animal protein production in the future?
I would like to be able to communicate the importance of sustainably managing shrimp farming health. The industry has focused on advancing the technical aspects of shrimp farming but not health management: our understanding of existing and emerging pathologies, the feeding and pond managements and potential impact of these on the environment have not advanced at the same speed. I hope to be able to transmit to clients and collaborators the importance of this message.
Can you share a fun or surprising fact about your research or field of expertise?
The immune system of shrimp is very different from that of mammals because it has no “memory,” which means that when a shrimp gets sick and is cured, it can get sick again, depending on the pathogen. Also, shrimp blood is called hemolymph. In its normal state, it is transparent, but when it coagulates, it turns blue gray!
