Meet Our Team!

Founder and CEO

Shaeema Zaman (She/Her), the founder of Science Melting Pot, is a physicist and science communicator from India. She moved to Denmark for her PhD at Aarhus University. Her research experience spans quantum physics education and outreach using games, simulations, astrophysics, and quantum control.

After completing her PhD, she started Science Melting Pot driven by her passion for science outreach and her concern for the challenges in achieving gender equity and ethnic diversity in the scientific community. She was also one of the board members of the Kvinder i Fysik- the Danish Women In Physics organization in Denmark. Furthermore, she also co-mentored a quantum physics outreach training program in a pan-European H2020 MSCA-ITN research project - QuSCo, during her PhD.

Shaeema has also worked outside academia as a scientific content creator and science communicator both in India and Denmark.

Canadian Branch Lead, Science Communicator

(Autistic, Queer, Indigenous)

Zoё Wright (They/Them) is a science communicator, physicist, and artist. Their passion for combining art and science led Zoё to shift from a career in astrophysics research to science communication. Since completing their Master’s in science communication at Laurentian University in Canada, they have worked as a science communicator and educator with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and several science centers and museums across Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK.

Being a queer, neurodivergent, and Indigenous scientist, they know firsthand many of the barriers faced by marginalized communities when it comes to interacting with science. A vision of sharing the beauty of science in new and accessible ways drives Zoё’s passion for science communication.

Zoё is our Head of the Canadian office, and also a workshop developer. They design inclusive communication workshops.

Project Coordinator

(on the Neuroatypical Spectrum)

Angela Herengt (She/Her) studied intestinal physiology and gut microbiota in France before coming to Denmark to pursue her Ph.D. in human immuno-metabolism. Throughout her personal and professional experiences, she has been sensitised to and interested in understanding all types of systemic discrimination. She conducted extensive personal research in sociology, psychology, and anthropology to better understand these phenomena.

In addition to her Ph.D. studies, Angela co-created two associations: Biophilia and Rewild. Biophilia aimed to connect citizens with nature by organising outdoor events such as hiking and camping trips. Rewild aimed to enhance biodiversity in Aarhus city. Additionally, a Biodiversity Treasure Hunt was organised at Institut for X, to learn about the local biodiversity while playing an outdoor game.

Passionate about science, communication, and inclusion, Angela joined the team to coordinate our diversity & inclusion, and science communication projects.

Strategy Manager

Gitte Kragh (She/Her) is a citizen science specialist with experience from a wide range of different types of projects in various fields that involve the public actively in knowledge creation. With experience from academia (ecologist with Ph.D. on environmental volunteering and human well-being), NGOs and small business, she is particularly interested in fostering successful collaborations between different stakeholders for the benefit of both science and society.

Inviting the public back into the science realm through their engagement with science and involvement in citizen science projects, provides benefits for all, including increased understanding, empowerment and well-being among participants, better co-created, inclusive and societally meaningful research, and democratisation of science in general.

Gitte is also on the Board of the European Citizen Science Association, and has joined the team as Strategy Manager for the Science Comes to Town EU project.

Communications Lead

Jan Boman (He/Him) is an experienced communications specialist, focusing on strategic communications and its execution and impact.

 He has extensive capabilities in relationship building, community relations, developing and formulating core messages and policies and building effective communication channels and partnerships. He has worked with clients and partners in Europe, the Nordics and the Arctic for several years. Originally with a background in logistics and management, his activities today span a wide range of fields and sectors, often related to technical, educational or societal issues.

 As both an adviser and a facilitator, he practices crisis preparedness and communications, often paired with scenario analysis and planning.

Jan is part of the Science Melting Pot, planning and executing a communications strategy and forming key relationships and partnerships for the Science Comes to Town 2027 EU project in Aarhus.

Event Manager

Sarafina (She/They) is a community event organiser and workshop facilitator with a background in science and technology communication, as well as social art.

Their curiosity about science as a tool for understanding and impacting the world led them to study Nanobioscience (Bsc) where they dabbled in quantum biology research and dissemination. Seeing the importance of the latter led Sarafina to study Journalism (Cand.Mag), specialising in social media communication. After this, they spent several years in the world of industry, steering the communications of cutting-edge maritime engineering companies – while in their free time practicing social art through organising co-creative and sensuous educational events involving for example storytelling, cooking, dance and visual art.

In Aarhus, they facilitate many skillsharing events and workshops which make accessible even complex topics, from the latest digital technologies to ancient fermentation practices. The driver of their work is to help communities practice the skills they need for growing a more pleasurable, just and sustainable world.

They joined Science Melting Pot to lead the implementation of the Science Comes to Town EU project.

Research and Learning Manager

David (He/Him) has over fifteen years of experience working at the intersection between research and society. His specialisms include public engagement, organisational change, and strategic partnerships. He has worked extensively with research funders and universities, and has developed training resources for the University Partnership Playbook which synthesised the key approaches utilised by R&D departments into a set of resources that could help businesses build strategic partnerships with Universities. His work spans across various sectors, including museums, businesses, cultural organisations, civil society organisations. He is an experienced trainer and facilitator working with both researchers, and students to facilitate the integration of societal impact into research and education. He holds accreditation as an ILLM level 7 equivalent coach, and is a TEDx speaker.

David has joined Science Melting Pot to develop and facilitate workshops for interdisciplinary settings, especially for research and learning purposes, to understand innovation ecosystems.

SciCom Social Media Specialist

Sara (She/Her) holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from Mexico and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Scientific Studies in Denmark, specializing in Science Communication and Astronomy. She has authored two published articles and has been a speaker at several National Science Conferences and institutions in Mexico and Denmark.

Leading the "Morra Científica" science communication project on social media with over 120 thousand followers, she claimed the top position in Mexico's "Helia Bravo Hollis" National Women's Science Communication Competition. Sara is an engaging speaker, recognized with the State Youth Award in Applied Sciences in Zacatecas and acknowledgement from the Senate of the Republic for her unwavering commitment to disseminating scientific knowledge to the youth.

Collaborating with the United Nations (UN) "Verified" Global Campaign underscores her commitment to broader global initiatives. She is very active in disseminating science not only through her Social Media project but also through radio, television, newspapers, and science fairs or events.

Storytelling Specialist

Robin Bonné (He/Him) is a researcher in biophysics and science communication enthusiast. After finishing both a master's in physics and astronomy and a teacher's degree, he obtained a PhD at Hasselt University (Belgium) about microbes that conduct electricity.

During his academic career, his love for communicating to a broad audience led him to give talks, engage in different outreach events and appear in television and radio interviews in Belgium and the Netherlands. Currently he focuses on citizen science projects and coaching young researchers in their science outreach by using skills from the theatre floor. In his free time, you will find him on a long bike ride, behind a music instrument or on stage at an improv comedy show.

Robin joined Science Melting Pot to develop storytelling and diversity & inclusion workshops for quantum scientists.

Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

Inka Fischer Leoncio (She/Her) is a cultural and social anthropologist as well as a pedagogue. Her studies have been driven by her curiosity about human behavior. She is dedicated to raising awareness and fostering consciousness in society. As a coach in intercultural competencies, conflict management, and feminine cycle awareness, she supports individuals in establishing authentic and empathetic connections with themselves and others.

In her Master's in Cultural and Social Anthropology, her research centered on social inequality, gender and performance studies, as well as collaborative and action anthropology.

As a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at Science Melting Pot, Inka is responsible for designing and facilitating workshops on DEI topics. Thanks to her academic background, she contributes a perspective grounded in qualitative social research to the team.

Creative Consultant

Anna Carla Maria Penati (She/Her) is an actress, movement director, and theatre lecturer based in Denmark.
Having graduated as an actress from The Italian Public Academy of Dramatic Arts Nico Pepe, Anna pursued her Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts at Den Danske Scenekunstskole.

Additionally, she specialized in the "Active Analysis Method'' (Anatolij Vasiliev/Stanislavskij/Maria Knebel) from 2014 to 2016, and furthered her focus on movement, studying Dance for actors with Julie Anne Stanzak and Balletto Civile Dance Co. (Italy). Moreover, She teaches movement and mask techniques and performs at several international festivals. In parallel with her career as an actress and movement director, she designs theatre-based learning workshops and research projects for higher education institutions focusing on body language and storytelling techniques (fx “VIA Drama Laboratorium” project at VIA University College/Marketing Dpt and Software Eng Dpt). Anna is a co-founder of the theatre company HumanLab.

Creative Consultant

Marco Zavarise (He/Him) is an actor and theatre lecturer at Viborg Kommune and designs theatre-based workshops for the LegeKunst project. Graduating as an actor from the Italian Public Academy of Dramatic Arts Nico Pepe, Marco subsequently decided to further his studies, specializing in teaching and the methods of physical theatre training. His physical training draws inspiration from encounters with Italian Commedia dell'Arte masters, involvement in modern dance, and interactions with the modern clowning pioneer, Pierre Byland.

Marco focuses on techniques to unlock the body's expressiveness and the development of creative gestures. In Denmark, he founded the theatre company HumanLab, which produces shows, workshops, and artistic research in collaboration with institutions both in Denmark and abroad.

Business Administrator, Sales, Marketing

Sarah (She/Her) has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, specializing in Human Resource Management. Sarah works on our sales, marketing and administration tasks. Fueling her passion for knowledge, Sarah completed a Digital Marketing course, gaining valuable skills she expertly applies in her role at Science Melting Pot.

Her journey started with a cultural exchange in Denmark, which turned into a love for the country's culture and language, leading her to stay here

Sarah embodies a fearless trailblazer who embraces the unknown and continuously strives for personal and professional growth!

Video Producer and Editor

Christoph M. Madsen (He/Him) is a professional Video Producer with specialities in Video Editing and Journalism. With a solid background in a wide range of video productions from science communication, news features, commercials and infomercials, documentaries and fiction, Christoph M. Madsen specialises in transforming complex topics into video formats perfectly suited for the intended target audience. In his career as a Video Producer, he has worked for world-leading science organisations such as CERN and ESO and has produced flagship video productions such as the CERN 60th anniversary feature short-film. Now as a freelance Video Producer he has, among other projects, produced several aviation news features and short documentaries on behalf of Scandinavia’s leading on-line aviation and travel magazine InsideFlyer.

Software Specialist

Jan Egberg Lauritzen (He/Him) is a software specialist who has worked in many different fields, ranging from airport systems, radar detection of oil spills to controlling wind turbines.

After graduating from the Department of Computer Science at Aarhus University, Denmark, he started out with real-time software development for controlling internal systems inside wind turbines. Later, he moved to projects relating to networking, client-side software and data analysis and visualization.

Today he works as a technical lead, system designer and mentor on many different projects.

At Science Melting Pot, he is our programmer and gamer onboard to create digital solutions tailored to your needs.

Graphic Artist

Mehtaj Zaman Ahmed (She/Her) is a graduate in Leather Design from NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata, India). She was earlier working as a Product Designer in Pondicherry, India for a leather goods brand, HIDESIGN.

Over the years with experience in design & market understanding, she later ventured on her own in the retail sector, alongside heading her own design agency, Designwale, in the past 10 years.

As a consultant working with local businesses in Assam, India, her strength lies in brand communication, graphic design and social media (SoMe) management.

She is our graphic artist. Last but not least, our logo has also been designed by her.