Alba Marina Cotes Prado (Bogota, February 15 1959), is a Colombian

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...

and

biologist A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual Cell (biology), cell, a multicellular organism, or a Community (ecology), community of Biological inter ...

, known for her research on

biological pest control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

In 2009, Cotes became the first

Latin American Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-eth ...

woman in receive a

Honoris Causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

degree by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Biography

Cotes finished a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

and

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...

Free University of Colombia Free University of Colombia ( es, Universidad Libre), also called Unilibre, is a nonsectarian, coeducational, private and nonprofit university based in Bogota, Colombia, with six satellite campuses located in Cali, Barranquilla, Pereira, ...

in 1980. Then, she started her graduate studies at Universidad of los Andes in 1982. She did graduate programs in food microbiology and industrial microbiology, followed by a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

microbiology Microbiology () is the scientific study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, prot ...

(1986). Cotes did also a master's degree in agricultural biotechnology in 1988 and a

Ph.D A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common Academic degree, degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields ...

agricultural sciences Agricultural science (or agriscience for short) is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. Profession ...

focused on

phytopathology Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...

in 1994, both at

Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (GxABT), located in Gembloux, Belgium, is one of the eleven faculties of the University of Liège. Founded in 1860 and previously known as the Faculté universitaire des sciences agronomiques de Gembloux (FUSAGx, French for ...

in Belgium. In 2009, she received a

degree by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In 1994, Cotes started working at the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (CORPOICA) as the Biotechnology Center director, where she started a research group focused on the development of

pesticides Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. This includes herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, microbicide, fungicide, and lampric ...

for phytopathogen control in

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

. In addition, she has been professor in multiple academic institutions in Colombia, such as Universidad of los Andes,

Nueva Granada Military University The Nueva Granada Military University ( es, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada), also called UMNG, is a public, private, self-funded, national, coeducational university based in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. The university has 8 faculties, 20 un ...

, and

Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia The Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (), also known as "La UPTC", is a national public university in Colombia with main campus in Tunja and presence in the country's seven departments. The university has a headquarters, thre ...

. She has published more than one hundred papers in peer review journals, twenty books, and twelve book chapters.

Selected publications

The following is Cotes most notable publications. * 2006 - ''Resumen de Investigaciones en el Control Biológico de las Moscas Blancas'' (Research Summary on the Biological Control of Whiteflies) ISBN 958-8210-88-7 * 2005 - ''Reconocimiento, Selección y Evaluación de Aislamientos Nativos de Virus de la Granulosis para el Control Biológico de la Polilla Guatemalteca de la Papa'' (Recognition, Selection and Evaluation of Native Isolates of Granulosis Virus for the Biological Control of the Guatemalan Potato Moth) ISBN 958-8210-87-9 * 2012 - ''Uso de Lecanicillium Lecanii para el Control de la Mosca Blanca (''Lecanicillium Lecanii Use for Whitefly Control) ISBN 978-958-740-106-6 * 2012 - ''Uso de los Compuestos Volátiles de la Papa en el Control de la Polilla Guatemalteca'' (Use of the Volatile Compounds of the Potato in the Control of the Guatemalan Moth) ISBN 978-958-740-096-0 * 2009 - ''Levaduras nativas como aditivos funcionales para mejorar la nutrición de monogástricos y rumiantes en condiciones tropicales'' (Native yeasts as functional additives to improve monogastric and ruminant nutrition in tropical conditions) ISBN 978-958-740-001-4 *

Awards and honours

Cotes has been awarded the following honours. *Successful Women Award - Science and Technology category, Fundación Mujeres de Éxito, 2013 * National Award in Phytopathology - Colombian Association of Phytopathology and Related Sciences, 2011 * Recognition for outstanding scientific work - Corporación para el Desarrollo Industrial De La Biotecnología, 2008 * Scientific Merit Medal - Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation, 2009 * Luis Hernando Pino Santiago National Entomology Prize - Colombian Society of Entomology, 2009 * Honorary Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2009 * Honorable Mention - Colombian Society of Entomology, 2000 * National Prize for Soil Science - Colombian Society of Soil Science, 2000 * National Phytopathology Award - Colombian Association of Phytopathology and Related Sciences, 1998 * Professor Ad-honorem - Institute of Biotechnology,

National University of Colombia The National University of Colombia () is a national public research university in Colombia, with general campuses in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, and satellite campuses in Leticia, San Andrés, Arauca, Tumaco, and La Paz, Ces ...

, 1994

References

External links

Researcher: Alba Marina Cotes Prado
(In Spanish) 1959 births Living people People from Bogotá Colombian chemists Colombian biologists University of Los Andes (Colombia) alumni University of Liège alumni Free University of Colombia alumni {{Improve categories, date=January 2021