About us
Core Team
We are a group of scientists: we love what we do and we do it with passion
Our authors draft the article after an extensive literature search and review. The whole team is involved in the review, editing and feedback of the original draft. The author finalises the article based on the feedback received in collaboration with the editor-in-chief and project manager. Our graphic team develops illustrations to complement the text.
Once final, the article is translated, published on our website and advertised on social media. Each article is summarized in short videos.
Project Founders
Kamil Wolanin
project founder / editor in chief
Currently, I am not involved in academic research anymore. I support the development of new vaccines as a Clinical Scientist. However, I started my adventure with science as a biotechnology student at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. From there my path took me to Heidelberg, where I first worked at EMBL and then I moved to Heidelberg University where I completed my PhD studies. Most of my research revolved around malaria and it was this particular topic that triggered my desire to start this website. I originally wanted to help solve the circulating misconceptions about malaria. Later on, this idea evolved into an urge to debunk misinformation about other concepts in science.
That’s how Facts & Reasons was born.
Ambra Villani
co-founder / manager / outreach / videos
Science has been my passion since I can remember. I started fully diving into it by studying medical biotechnology at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy). My passion for lab research brought me firstly to Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut – USA) during my Master’s degree, and, afterwards, to Heidelberg (Germany) for my PhD studies at EMBL. I am currently a researcher at the University of Zürich (Switzerland), and I still love science and research more than anything. This is why I am proudly taking part in this mission to bring truth and proper scientific communication to everyone and create a trustworthy platform to consult and interact.
Authors
Jacek Jabłoński
Anything I do for a living is connected with my beloved English language. I teach academic English to local & foreign students at the University of Wrocław (Poland). I provide English tutoring for private clients. I teach at a private school. However, what brings me the most joy is translating and editing academic texts from various branches of science. I am delighted to work on this project with my friends.
Nicolina Zjacic
A passion for science communication isn’t surprising based on the influences I’ve had in my life. With a degree in Biology from the University of Sheffield (UK) under my belt, I’ve since specialized in Human and Molecular Genetics for my Master’s at the same University and am now fulfilling my PhD at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) in Medical Genetics. My greatest inspiration has still been my mother, who’s curiosity and questions remind me that the difference between a good scientist and a great scientist is how well they can communicate their ideas. I also firmly believe that scientists have a responsibility to share the truth accessibly both within and outside of their community, which is why I proudly promote Facts&Reasons’ mission.
Viviana D'Otolo
My journey with science started during my Bachelor's degree at the University of Naples (Italy), taking care of tiny Daphnia Magna crustaceans. I then continued my studies with a Master's degree in Rome (Italy), where I discovered the fascinating world of immunology. I moved to Switzerland out of love (not only the one for science), where I obtained a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Basel, honing my gene-editing techniques on T cells.
I decided to join Facts&Reasons with the aim of bringing people closer to science, covering topics that may be of interest to a broad audience.
Marijn Wilmink
From the moment I started my scientific career at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands), my inner nerd started blooming and has now fully blossomed. Currently, I am based in Zurich where I am working on my PhD with regards to gastroenterological pathophysiology. Friends would describe it as annoying that I always need to have a critical opinion about anything. But what can I say, I am a researcher to the bones, always looking to explore the unknown, and motivated to share my knowledge and understanding with others. Hence, my excitement to join this team and share facts with the world.
Jeremy Yeoh
“Why don’t you consider studying biochemistry since you don’t hate biology or chemistry?”: This offhand remark from my biology teacher in high school led me to choosing biochemistry during my undergraduate studies, where I somehow again stumbled into a field most of my friends in my course disliked: Immunology. Since then, I’ve gone ‘full Immunologist’; first completing my master’s degree in immunology at Imperial College London (UK), followed by a doctorate in the same field at University of Bern (CH). Being the only person working remotely close to biology or medicine in my family, I often get questions regarding whether certain news can be trusted (regardless of their relevancy to my studies, not helped by my relatives being completely clueless about what I do). Considering how much and how rapid information is being spread online, more platforms such as Facts&Reasons that sift through scientific misinformation/disinformation are sorely needed and I hope to contribute to their cause.
Alicia Abarca
Alicia was lucky to grow up in the wonderful tropical coast of Spain surrounded by avocado, mango and chirimoya trees. She was a very curious girl and found biology fascinating since school. Specifically, her interest in plant science arose during her bachelor studies in Biology at the University of Granada (Spain) and her master’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands). Currently, she is doing her PhD at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) investigating the immune system of plants. She is very interested in science communication and is particularly eager to improve engagement between people and science. She is never afraid of facing new challenges and immersing herself in new activities. That is why she joined Facts&Reasons. By being part of this project, she wants to contribute to the important mission of making science more approachable to everyone.
Graphic Team
Marco Garbelli
I have wanted to be some kind of scientist since I was little. Curious and excited about nature, I spent my day roaming the garden to look at small insects, or playing around with kids’ microscopes. After a bachelor in pharmaceutical biotechnologies at the “Università Statale di Milano” (Italy), I got interested in developmental biology. My passion for the topic brought me to work on my master’s thesis at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (Germany), where I studied a mechanosensitive protein involved in zebrafish cardiovascular development. Currently I am pursuing a PhD in neurobiology at the University of Zurich (Switzerland), where I investigate visual processing in the zebrafish retina. I joined Facts & Reasons to help fight the misinformation that keeps spreading through the media with a group of passionate and committed people.
Marijn Wilmink
From the moment I started my scientific career at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands), my inner nerd started blooming and has now fully blossomed. Currently, I am based in Zurich where I am working on my PhD with regards to gastroenterological pathophysiology. Friends would describe it as annoying that I always need to have a critical opinion about anything. But what can I say, I am a researcher to the bones, always looking to explore the unknown, and motivated to share my knowledge and understanding with others. Hence, my excitement to join this team and share facts with the world.
Outreach team
Translation & Review
Alicia Abarca
translator to Spanish language
Alicia was lucky to grow up in the wonderful tropical coast of Spain surrounded by avocado, mango and chirimoya trees. She was a very curious girl and found biology fascinating since school. Specifically, her interest in plant science arose during her bachelor studies in Biology at the University of Granada (Spain) and her master’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands). Currently, she is doing her PhD at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) investigating the immune system of plants. She is very interested in science communication and is particularly eager to improve engagement between people and science. She is never afraid of facing new challenges and immersing herself in new activities. That is why she joined Facts&Reasons. By being part of this project, she wants to contribute to the important mission of making science more approachable to everyone.
Adriana Hotz
translator to German language
The questions of “why?” and “how?” have been driving me since childhood. When my highschool teacher introduced me to the world of neuroscience, I developed a great fascination for the brain. This led me to study biology and, eventually, neurobiology as an undergraduate at the University of Zurich (Switzerland). During my Master’s thesis, I first saw a living brain of a zebrafish under a microscope. Intrigued by the possibilities of scientific research, I did my PhD in Zurich and, partially, in Trondheim (Norway). During this time, I also developed a great fascination for genetics - the study of our genes. That's why I now work in a Genomics Core Facility, where we support various researchers with our sequencing technologies. In recent years, and especially during this pandemic, my family and friends have been asking me more and more about scientific misinformation that is being spread. By participating in this project, I want to contribute to bringing proper scientific information to everyone.
Filipe Viegas
translator to Portuguese language
Curiosity and a constant desire to know more are my driving force and have been so since I can remember. Naturally, this directed me towards science even at an early age, as there was just so much to discover about everything around me. After high school, this propelled me towards engineering school where I took on an electrical and computer engineering degree. However, I could not suppress my fascination for life sciences and as a result, I left engineering school to pursue a degree in Biology. After finishing my MSc degree in evolutionary and developmental biology, I delved into the world of neuroscience and genetics during my first research position. This fascinating experience catalyzed my decision to apply for a PhD in neuroscience in the University of Zürich, where I developed a project that merges my love for neuroscience, metabolism and genetics. I am eager to contribute to this project because it is extremely important to provide a bastion of unbiased and well-supported information against the barrage of misinformation and “clickbait” articles we are exposed to in our daily lives.
Kamil Wolanin & Jacek Jabłoński
translators to Polish language
Kamil Wolanin
founder / editor in chief / author / translator
Jacek Jabłoński
author / editor / translator
