Zofia Witkowski-Blake (she/her)

Zofia is a Master of Science (Bioinformatics) student whose degree combines biology, applied maths and computer science to explore biological data, and she’s excited about the power of her emerging field to impact sustainable change in conservation and biodiversity research.

Having previously worked in insect-based organic waste management, Zofia now performs educational shows at Scienceworks with a two million volt Tesla Coil making real lightning, as well as leading journeys across the night sky and the universe beyond in the Melbourne Planetarium.

Since age 15, her science communication work has been featured on Radio National’s The Science Show. Most recently, she dove into the world of insect collectors and citizen science with her podcast Thoughts That Bug Me. Zofia finds inspiration across both science and art, and once made a TTRPG about the body’s immune system.

Zofia loves contemporary theatre, dancing, rhinestoning wigs, making costumes, and cooking dinner from whatever’s left in the back of the fridge. She changes her hair a lot, and won’t be offended if you don’t recognise her.