Growing up as a country kid in Carinthia gave me the best foundation for discovering science anytime and anywhere. When I wasn’t playing outside in nature or tending to my garden, I was creating a herbarium or drawing pictures of plants and trees.

Inseparable: Art and science have always been closely linked for me. After graduating from high school, I studied biology in Vienna and earned my doctorate in microbiology and genetics. I was also an enthusiastic tutor at the Vienna Open Lab. Back then, I already noticed that children always ask the best questions. Unfortunately, however, they rarely had the opportunity to answer their questions experimentally on their own in everyday life. And I wanted to change that!

Science shapes the future: Part of my work involves questioning and defining what constitutes science, who has access to science, and what a scientist looks like. In the US, I played a key role in setting up the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center Infrastructure. There, students from around the world are given the opportunity to explore biodiversity using DNA barcoding. In addition, I created BioArt in collaboration with artists and architects. BioArt is a young movement in contemporary art which uses methods from research laboratories and experiments with biological materials. We focused on the microbiome—using fluorescent bacteria. These bacteria act as a platform for antibiotic resistance.

I currently lead a team of scientists at BioBus in New York. The goal is to give society low-threshold access to research. Buses and community spaces were converted into laboratories that invite people to get involved.

I also work with the New York Virus Hunters to investigate the urban wildlife population for pathogens, such as bird flu. My next project? As a group leader at LBI SOAP in Vienna, I will be working with the public to collect data that will help prevent future pandemics. Because science is everywhere — and it’s there for everyone!

Christine Marizzi studied genetics. She conducts research at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Science Outreach and Pandemic Preparedness (LBI SOAP) at the Medical University of Vienna. There, she is establishing an early warning system for pathogens, i.e., infectious agents that can trigger potential pandemics.