Research Spotlight: Diego Golombek

Fall 2025 Henry Hart Rice Visiting Professor

 

Diego Golombek holds a PhD in Biology from the University Buenos Aires and is currently Plenary Professor (University San Andrés) and Superior Investigator at the National Research Council in Argentina. He is the director of the Laboratory for the Interdisciplinary Study of Time and the Chronobiology Lab. He has published over 180 scientific papers in the area of biological rhythms and sleep. Besides chronobiology, he has been interested in science communication/outreach, publishing about 20 popular science books, hosting TV shows and creating science exhibitions and shows. He was president of the Argentinean Society for Neuroscience, the National Institute for Technological Education and director of the National Science Center. He received the National Science Prize “Bernardo Houssay”, the Guggenheim fellowship, the Konex Prize, the IgNobel award, the “Capital City” award (Mexico), the UNESCO Kalinga Prize and the Order of Academic Palms (France).

During the Fall 2025 semester at Yale, he is teaching ANTH 3968: Science Stories: Communicating Discovery Across Cultures. This course invites students from the natural and exact sciences—and anyone curious about the power of knowledge—to explore how to turn complex ideas into stories that inspire, inform, and empower diverse audiences. Blending theory and practice, we will experiment with different media platforms: from writing and museum exhibits to live performance and digital storytelling. 

What was your pathway to visiting Yale?
I was very honored to be invited last year for the premiere of the opera I wrote the script for, Darwin in Patagonia, an attempt to use the stage as a vehicle not only for the arts but also for science communication, sponsored by the Council for Latin American & Iberian Studies (CLAIS) and the Yale School of Music. At the same time—but through independent channels—I received a wonderful invitation from CLAIS to spend a semester as Henry Hart Rice Visiting Professor at Yale. As someone who has long worked at the intersection of science, culture, and public understanding, I could not imagine a better opportunity, and without hesitation I started packing my bags!

What will you be working on when you are at Yale?
I will be teaching a course on Science Storytelling, aimed at a diversity of undergraduate and graduate students. In parallel, I will be giving research seminars across several departments and contributing to courses related to my own field of expertise—sleep and circadian rhythms—such as The Mystery of Sleep and The Politics of Sleep and Sleeplessness. I also want to explore research collaborations with different groups at the University, particularly in sleep and biological rhythms, while also proposing activities related to scientific culture and communication. Other than that, I brought plenty of work with me: I hope to finish a popular science book and a couple of academic papers. It is a lot to achieve in a single semester, but I know the demanding and stimulating atmosphere of Yale will help me get there.

What has your experience been like teaching at Yale?
Although I have just started my course, I am already (and pleasantly) surprised by the many opportunities we have as teachers, and in particular by the curiosity and participation of my students. They are deeply engaged, ask wonderful and challenging questions, and take the aims of communicating their (and others’) research very seriously. For me, communicating and popularizing science is an essential part of our job as scientists, so seeing students embrace this responsibility is very rewarding.
I have also noticed the remarkable effort professors put into improving their classes, dedicating generous time to students, and exploring new and innovative teaching methodologies—well supported by the University. This culture of teaching excellence is something I want to bring back home to enrich both my classes and my mentorship.

How will you be working with Yale researchers?
While I will not be performing experimental research during my stay, I am actively interacting with researchers in different fields—especially sleep and circadian rhythms—to envision future collaborations. I am also interested in advancing interdisciplinary initiatives at the boundaries of arts and sciences, such as collaborative projects in science communication, cultural programming, and scientific exhibitions. These exchanges will be invaluable once I return to Argentina, where I aim to strengthen our networks and expand opportunities for international collaboration.

What are you most looking forward to doing or visiting when at Yale?
I must admit I am a little overwhelmed by the sheer number and quality of opportunities at Yale: there is always something amazing going on somewhere (often involving food and drinks, I should add). I hope to take advantage of these events to meet and learn from incredible scholars and students, to incorporate new perspectives on teaching and research, and to strengthen academic ties that will last well beyond this visit. Most of all, I look forward to bringing home not only new knowledge and collaborations, but also the inspiration of being part of such a vibrant community.