The writers
Luís is currently a PhD student in immunology at Lund University (Sweden) and the University of Coimbra (Portugal). His research focuses on understanding the diversity of dendritic cells, the patrolling cells of the immune system, that can be used for cancer immunotherapy. Outside research, Luís is an enthusiastic science communicator who loves sharing his and other’s science stories with the public. Either through writing or speaking, Luís enjoys spreading the knowledge to make the world a better place… Or at least to make the world a little bit more excited about fascinating facts.
Leal is a researcher fascinated by immunology and hematopoiesis. She got her PhD from University of Montpellier in France and moved to Sweden to do her postdoc, trying to understand how blood forms at the very early stages of life. After 8 years at Lund University, she took on another postdoc position in Switzerland at University of Zürich, focusing on rare blood diseases. During her career, she became more and more frustrated with the academic publishing system and believes it’s time for a change. She thinks scientists have the power to take back ownership of their work, they just need to realize it.
Sam is currently a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany. His research focuses on finding novel materials for electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction in nanoporous systems. Beyond his research, he is deeply engaged in institutional and freelance science communication, sharing science with children, high school students, and diverse audiences. Sam also dedicates time to creating new science outreach initiatives that emphasize inclusivity, diversity and promote STEM education.
Anita is a molecular biologist, science communicator and improv comedian. She completed her PhD on protein regulation at the Humboldt University of Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine. Alongside her research, she keeps herself busy performing comedy and working on science communication initiatives. For example, she has contributed to over 20 science outreach events, both as a science slammer and organizer, including for women in science advocacy platform Soapbox Science and her own science-comedy show Laughing Matter. She aims to open up the world of research to the public and help create a happier, healthier environment for researchers.
Andrea is a PhD student at the University of Stuttgart with a background in Electronic Engineering and Information Technologies. Drawn to the world of Data Science, he focuses now his research on data governance and privacy protection through anonymization. His work is driven by the belief that privacy should be a fundamental right, not a trade-off for profit. He thinks hyper-tailored services often do more harm than good and that society can, and should, do without them. He conducts his research in collaboration with a German automotive company, his opinions are his own. Beyond his research, Andrea stays engaged with the latest advancements in AI, occasionally integrating new developments into his work.
The Open Fox (a nod to The Mole) is not my real name, shocker! However, to write with honesty and occasionally wit I must remain in the shadows, having caused the good-kind of trouble for many years. With over a decade of experience across academia, public engagement and science communication, Open Fox works at the intersection of research, policy, and communication to foster more equitable and open scientific systems. Open Fox has been a trusted source for numerous journalistic outlets, offering insight on issues ranging from open access to research culture and academic reform. A globally respected (questionable!) expert in open science and research culture, Open Fox fights to transform the publishing ecosystem to build a fairer, more effective research culture for the future.