For Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, science is not about titles or publications, but about meaning. From Mexico City to the Netherlands, Denmark, and now Belgium, Ruben has carried his passion for microbes around the world, looking for ways they can benefit society, from food to sustainability.

As a staff scientist at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Ruben brings not only his research but also his values to the table. He talks about what it means to embed community, culture, and sustainability into science, why positive impact matters more than prestige, and how microbes may hold the key to shaping a better future.

Do you have a question you always wanted to ask? Submit them here anonymously.

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Called to Science is a podcast by VIB. Produced by De Praeters.