Who we are

Anita Zanella obtained her PhD in Astrophysics at the Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique (Paris, France) and later worked as a researcher at the European Southern Observatory in Germany and in Chile. Since 2019, Anita has worked at INAF as a researcher. Anita studies galaxy formation and evolution in time, giving life to the multitude of shapes and colours which we observe today. Anita Zanella is also an enthusiast of scientific popularization, and took part in and organized several festivals and International events in Italy, France and Germany.

Andrea Cottinelli graduated in astrophysics after obtaining a classical diploma and obtained a master's degree in science communication at the University of Padua. He worked for two years as a research fellow at INAF OAPd, on the PLATO mission of the European Space Agency. Always passionate about science, theater and performing arts, he continues to mix the three things by teaching mathematics and physics in high school, organizing festivals and doing research here and there in the educational and popular fields.

Federico Di Giacomo obtained his degree in Astrophysics and Cosmology at the University of Bologna in 2013. Since 2015 he has been working at INAF, National Institute for Astrophysics, in the field of teaching and dissemination. He currently holds a research grant at INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padova, where he deals with the enhancement of INAF scientific heritage, as well as various teaching and outreach activities. In particular, this year Federico has been working on a research project devoted to the study of a few stellar catalogues, which were made in Padova in the second half of the nineteenth century. Federico carries out many other teaching and dissemination activities in the field of Astronomy, and Science in general.

Giovanni Liuzzi obtained a degree in psychological science, cognitive and psychobiological  at the University of Padova in 2018. In 2021 he collaborated as a tutor for inclusion at the University of Padova. Since 2021, he has been collaborating with the Italian Blind and Visually Impaired Union - Section of Padova in the field of teaching inclusion of visually impaired, ensuring equal access to training opportunities. Giovanni is passionate about innovative solutions for the dissemination of science in an accessible and inclusive way.

Massimo Grassi holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Padua. He carried out the post-doctoral period at the University of Udine and as a visiting scientist and Marie Curie fellow at the University of Sussex. From 2006 to 2018 he was a researcher at the University of Padua and since 2018 he has been an associate professor at the same university. He deals with auditory perception, psychology of music and the possible applications of these in everyday life. He has been coordinator of the experimental section of the Italian Association of Psychology and is a member of the steering committee of the Italian Reproducibility Network. He has organized many scientific dissemination events including, recently, the art exhibition "L'occhio in gioco" at the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà in Padua.

Rachele Toniolo obtained her degree in Astronomy at the University of Padova with a dissertation on the use of games as a teaching, and since 2019 has been working at INAF – Institute of  Radioastronomy in Bologna, in the field of Astrophysics teaching and dissemination.
In this same field, in 2022 Rachele started a doctorate course, mainly devoted to the development of new teaching resources on radioastronomy, exploiting the main innovative teaching tool methods, such as tinkering, project-based learning and game-based learning.

Sabrina Carraro graduated in Political Science with a historical-political focus at the University of Padua. Since 1997 Sabrina has been an administrative officer at INAF as human resources manager. Over the years you have participated in the organization of scientific congresses and since 2018 she has been working in the field of teaching and dissemination for the organization and implementation of activities aimed at the public and schools.

Besides this she is passionate about history, art and literature.

Francesca Zanella, architect and set designer. Francesca obtained a degree in architecture in 2016 at the Academy of Architecture of Mendrisio (Switzerland), and worked as an architect both in Italy and abroad. Since 2017, Francesca has been working in Roma as an assistant designer for film productions, such as “Il traditore” (The Traitor, by M. Bellocchio), “Hammamet” (by G. Amelio), “Lacci” (Laces, by D. Luchetti), “Esterno Notte” ( by M. Bellocchio).

Giuliana Giobbi has a degree in Modern Foreign Languages from the Sapienza University of Rome, she holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow (UK) in English and Comparative Literature. Since she returned to Italy, she has been working for INAF for many years, first at INAF-OAR and for a year at the Headquarters, for dissemination and linguistic tasks, and for the organization of national and international events. In her spare time she enjoys reading Anglo-Saxon fiction and practicing yoga.