Eduard Punset: the science communicator who split his audience

Eduard Punset: the science communicator who split his audience

Eduard Punset, the best-known face of science communication in Spain, leaves no one indifferent even after his death. His figure, turned into a meme but also a cultural reference, still generates a bitter controversy between those who defend him as a genius and those who see him as an empty media product.

The 'Dalí syndrome' and social media

It is easy to understand why some compare him to Salvador Dalí: both knew how to exploit their persona, keep up appearances and engage with the elites from a calculated pose. His trinc praised his ability to hold 'cosmic conversations' with academics from American universities. His critics, however, point out that he never had even basic knowledge of economics and that his drift towards the 15-M movement and 'revolution' was more posturing than conviction.

Talks, memes and a complicated legacy

Punset filled small-town theatres charging 'morteradas' — an expression of the time referring to obscene sums — for talks in which he nodded along with a deliberateness that went viral. His show 'Redes' shaped an entire generation, though today some dismiss it with acidity. Anecdotes about his interest in 'lookmaxing' (the optimisation of female appearance) add yet another layer of controversy.

Whether Punset was a visionary ahead of his time or a seller of sophisticated smoke, everyone has their own answer. What is clear is that his mark on popular culture is undeniable, and the void he leaves has been filled by no one. The controversy over his legacy, like his memory, lives on.