Meet Our Team!

Founder and CEO

Shaeema Zaman, 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.

Science Communication Specialist

(Autistic, Queer, Indigenous)

Zoё Wright 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 has joined Science Melting Pot as a workshop developer. They design science communication workshops on visual communication, inclusive communication and storytelling.

Project Coordinator

(on the ADHD and Autism spectrum)

Angela Herengt 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 diversity & inclusion, and science communication projects.

SciCom Social Media Specialist

Sara 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 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. Today he is continuing his work as a postdoc at Aarhus University (Denmark).

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 presentation and storytelling workshops for quantum scientists.

Creative Consultant

Anna Carla Maria Penati 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 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 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 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 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.

Quantum Physicist, Science Communicator

Amit Devra is a physicist who moved to Germany for his PhD studies in 2018. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. at the Technical University of Munich in Germany. He is a part of the pan-European Horizon 2020 MSCA-ITN research project QuSCo. His research experience spans quantum physics, quantum computing and quantum information processing, quantum control, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). His current research work is focused on the visualization of quantum spin and its experimental tomography (check out his blog here). This visualization helps to provide an easy and intuitive understanding of spin dynamics.

He is an outreach enthusiast and loves to explain science in simpler terms to a layperson. His approach is to remove the barrier between science research and the general public, which will help remove the scientific misconceptions from society and motivate the next generation to join scientific research.

Graphic Artist

Mehtaj Zaman Ahmed 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.