Director Cinthia Mendonça is an artist and researcher who lives in the Mantiqueira Range. She worked as a dancer, studied Drama and Theatre Direction.

She holds a Master’s in Visual Arts from the Escola de Belas Artes of UFRJ and a PhD in Contemporary Art and Culture from the Arts department of UERJ. She works with performance, the stage, the visual arts and in writing, and is interested in the dialogue between art and science. She has worked on Innovation and Experimentation Labs in Ibero-American territories, following the development of ideas and projects at a national and international level. She is an associate founder of Silo.

Strategic Coordinator Juliana Rosa holds a degree in International Relations from the Universidade Federal de Sergipe, where she had the chance to volunteer in the development of youth leaders, in students’ organizations and in scientific research. She further discovered at university the enthusiasm to work with projects aimed at empowering people and organizations, which intensified after working as a public servant of the local government on return to the sul-fluminense region.

Designer and Illustrator Paloma is a visual artist and graphic designer. With a degree from UFRJ, she has already worked in different areas of culture, ranging from museum education, exhibitions, to stage and artistic experimentation, in theatre and her illustrations and engravings . From an early age, she has fought for public policies in favour of access, investment and cultural empowerment for places out of reach. With this in mind, from 2018 to 2023, she was a member of the Municipal Committee for Cultural Policies of the city of Rio de Janeiro, representing civil society in the Design and Urban Culture segment. With a post-graduation in Service Design from PUC-Rio, she is a designer with a focus on branding and the creation of strategies and experiences for brands and services. Paloma is part of Silo’s communication team as a graphic designer and illustrator.

Communication Coordinator Mariana Silveira Costa holds a degree in Social Sciences from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) and is currently doing a degree in Social Communication, also at UFF. She is an activist in the fight for land reform and since 2019 she has worked with communication in the voluntary sector and in social movements in the Sul Fluminense region. She is one of the founders of the Instituto Toré, where she coordinates institutional communication and the organization’s projects.

Caretaker. From Lavras-MG, Carol is responsible for Silo’s building maintenance. With family in Serrinha do Alambari, she always has a good tip about Silo’s premises. She is an avid reader and loves photography.

Ana Lídia Hespanhol holds a degree in Law and Accounting, and an MBA in Financial Management and Controllership. She has over 25 years experience in administration, finance and accountancy. She worked in organizations implementing social projects and trained in Financial Management and Disbursement for clients of the World Bank.

Dr. Rosa holds a degree in Physics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, a master’s in Teaching, Philosophy and History of Sciences from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), a master’s in Science Education from Teachers College, and a Ph.D. in Science Education from Columbia University. She is a professor at the Institute of Physics (UFBA), where she is a local Physics coordinator of a Federal Teacher Education Program (PIBID). Her interests involve research and practice in physics teaching, physics for children, and additive manufacturing. Dr. Rosa grounds her work on feminist perspectives, Critical Race Theory, and Decolonial thought. She is interested in discussions involving the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in the construction and teaching of science.

Luciene Nascimento is a writer, make-up artist and lawyer with a law degree from Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). She is Vice-President of the Barra Mansa Bar Council’s Commission for Racial Equality, she writes about black female identity and esthetics, gives talks on the subject, and her videos of pedagopoesia (pedagogy + poetry) total more than 3 million viewings on the Internet. She is the author of the book “Tudo Nela é de se Amar” (“Everything in her is Love”) (Editora Estação Brasil, 2021); winner of the Prêmio Dandara and Zumbi dos Palmares award in the category of Communicação (Volta Redonda, 2019); she is quoted in the book “Na Minha Pele” (“In My Skin”) by Lázaro Ramos (Objetiva, 2017) and commended by the Revista Galileu magazine as an inspiration to new generations in literature (Globo, 2018).

Adriana Alves é professora associada no Instituto de Geociências da Universidade de São Paulo (IGc-USP), onde ministra disciplinas de graduação e pós-graduação na área de Mineralogia e Petrologia e lidera grupo de pesquisa dedicado à quantificação de voláteis associados ao vulcanismo antigo do Brasil e seus potenciais efeitos climáticos. Além de professora e pesquisadora, Adriana é mãe das pequenas Flora e Serena. Ela também preside a Comissão de Ética e Direitos Humanos do Instituto de Geociências e se dedica a lutar contra o racismo na ciência. Antes de assumir a coordenação, atuou como colaboradora do Escritório USP Mulheres e participou da discussão de políticas institucionais das universidades e da trajetória das mulheres negras, resultando na concepção de um programa de pós-doutorado voltado a pesquisadoras negras.

Carla Almeida is a journalist specialized in science, with a Master’s and PhD in Science Communication. She is on the Núcleo de Estudos da Divulgação Científica do Museu da Vida/Fiocruz team (Nucleus for the Studies of Science Communication of the Museum of Life), where she develops research on public perception of science; science, the media and society; and science and theatre. She is a lecturer on the course Specialization in Science Communication and Popularization and on the Master’s in Science, Technology and Health Communication, both linked to the Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. She worked on the Jornal da Ciência/SBPC, (Science Journal) at the Wellcome Collection/London, at the Instituto Ciência Hoje and the Museu Ciência e Vida/Fundação Cecierj. She collaborated on the portal Scidev.Net, where she was a regular columnist on Radar Latinoamericano (Latin-American Radar).

Bernardo Esteves is a science and environment journalist and a researcher on the social studies of science and technology. He is a reporter at piauí magazine and the host of the podcast A Terra é redonda (The Earth is round). He has a bachelor degree in Social Communication from Federal University of Minas Gerais (1999) and a PhD in History of Sciences and Epistemology from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2014). He teaches science journalism at Federal University of Minas Gerais. He is the author of Domingo é dia de ciência (Sunday is a day of science) (2006).

Director of the NGO Crescente Fértil. Ashoka social entrepreneur, Master in Sustainable Development, Specialist in Environmental Management of Forest Systems, Bachelor in Social Communication. He served in the environmental agency of Resende from 1989 to 1996, when he coordinated the implementation of the Serrinha do Alambari APA. He chaired the Resende-Amar Environment Agency from 2006 to 2008.

Moisés Medrano is Caribbean from Cartagena. He is an educator and social investigator, with a Social Sciences degree from the Universidad de Cartagena and with sociological studies from the Escuela de Ciencias Sociales, Artes y Humanidades -ECSAH- UNAD. He is a humanitarian worker in armed social conflict zones; he has headed social programs of national private sector groups and assisted international bodies.

Yurij Castelfranchi is an Italian quantic physicist (Univ. Roma1, “La Sapienza”), who became a scientific journalist (International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste) and who, on coming to Brazil, morphed into a sociologist at C&T (Unicamp). Today, he is professor of sociology at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, where he was Science Communication Director and currently coordinates the Observatório InCiTe (Inovação, Cidadania, Tecnociência) and the course “Amerek”, on the specialization in Public Science Communication. He collaborates with the OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States), UNESCO, Fiocruz, and with all the projects and collaborative labs seeking to multiply possible futures and empower the social appropriation of knowledge.

Fernanda Tosta is a multidisciplinary designer and artist. Graduated in General Design from PUC-GO with postgraduate degree in Design Management from Belas Artes-SP. She uses analog and digital tools to guide and build better realities, using wood and other materials to create new ways of occupy public and private spaces. She participated as a mentor in projects such as Hackathon Paulista, Casa Fora de Casa, Interactivos, Casalab Mulher and Favela Hacklab.

Public relations for love and training, Vanessa is smart in making connections of knowledge and people. A woman, mother, lesbian, anti-racist and feminist, she has been working in the third sector for almost 20 years and is currently the executive coordinator of Associação Bem-Te-Vi Diversidade, an organization that promotes human rights in Brazil by supporting socio-environmental and cultural projects. , health and education. He built his career by experiencing and specializing in topics such as: philanthropy for social justice, resource mobilization, strategic planning, governance, cause and relationship communication. She is, with great pride, a founding member of Silo and works voluntarily supporting organizations managed by women in the construction of projects and search for resources.

Sara Lana is a 33 year-old Brazilian artist and developer. She was born in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), studied Mathematics and Electric Engineering in the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Her projects lie in the convergence of art and technology. She often uses varied supports, especially sound, electronics and video, having illustration as an existing element throughout her process of creation.

Holds a degree in Computer Engineering. Has worked as an integrated circuits designer and fullstack developer. Was a technical advisor at cultural institutions like Marginalia+Lab in Belo Horizonte and the Museum of Image and Sound in São Paulo. Today works with art, education, digital culture and journalism.