Erha is a chemical engineer, science communicator, and the creator behind Erha the Explorer, a platform dedicated to making science make sense for 130K+ curious minds and growing. She recently completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware, where her research focused on chemical recycling of mixed textile waste, developing practical pathways for recycling the fabrics most of us wear and most recyclers cannot handle. Her work has been published in Science Advances and featured in The Washington Post, MIT Technology Review, Nature, C&EN, and the World Economic Forum. Born and raised in Indonesia, Erha’s path into science was shaped by curiosity and a desire to understand how research can create impact beyond the lab. Today, she uses storytelling to make green chemistry, sustainability, and materials science more human, relatable, and useful for broader audiences.

Walter spent over 35 years working in the pharmaceutical industry, with experience across both large companies like Pharmacia, BMS, and Fresenius Kabi, as well as mid-sized organizations such as Sigma-Tau and Antibioticos-Montedison. His work has covered everything from drug discovery to process R&D. In 2019, Walter joined the University of Bologna as a Full Professor of Organic Chemistry. These days, his research focuses on pharmaceutical green chemistry, catalysis, and peptide chemistry.

Sachin is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and a Mizzou Forward Faculty member at the University of Missouri–Columbia. Sachin’s research focuses on green and sustainable chemistry, with an emphasis on catalysis, nanotechnology, and environmentally responsible approaches to chemical synthesis, particularly for pharmaceutical applications. In addition to his research contributions, he serves as an Associate Editor for ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, a role he particularly enjoys for its connection to advancing the field of sustainable science.

Elyse is a fourth-year PhD student at the University of Alabama, where she focuses on research in heterogeneous catalysis. Outside the lab, Elyse is a married mom of two who spends a lot of her free time with my family. She also enjoys singing and getting involved in community service, like fundraising for women with breast cancer and supporting orphan care initiatives.

Cintia earned her MSc and PhD from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), where she also completed her postdoctoral research. She received a FAPESP Young Investigator Award and was a visiting researcher at Delft University of Technology. Since 2012, she has been with São Paulo State University (UNESP), where she is an Associate Professor working in Organic Chemistry and Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Her research is driven by the principles of Green Chemistry and spans sustainable synthesis, chemistry education, and societal engagement. In parallel, she develops initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM, with a particular focus on empowering girls and women in science.