Rebecca Pabst, PhD student in Tropical Diseases and Global Health at GHTM | Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Univerdidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT NOVA) and member of the VBD-GHTM Research Group, recently shared her scientific expertise in an interview with the German radio station Deutschlandfunk Nova. Under the supervision of Carla A. Sousa, researcher from VBD-GHTM Research Group, and César Capinha, from Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Lisboa (IGOT), Rebecca shared her scientific experience about the biology and spread of invasive mosquitoes across Europe, highlighting the implications for public health and ecosystem management.
During the conversation, she explained how mosquitoes, including invasive species such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), survive the winter and establish themselves in new environments. Rebecca emphasized that while climate change may influence the future establishment and expansion of these species, their introduction is primarily driven by globalisation, international trade, and human mobility — a pattern confirmed by recent research conducted by the GHTM team and published in Nature Communications (2025).
“Although climate change is not the primary driver of mosquito invasions, it can affect how these species establish and spread in the future by altering the availability of suitable habitats,” Rebecca Pabst explained.
The interview illustrates the role of scientific research in informing public understanding of complex global health and environmental challenges. It also highlights the contribution of GHTM researchers to science communication beyond academia, bridging the gap between research findings and societal awareness.
🎧 The full interview (in German) is available here: Deutschlandfunk Nova Interview