Hi, I’m Andreia Fernandes, a biomedical scientist, mom, and passionate science communicator based in Portugal. After 10+ years in biomedical research at one of the best European Universities (ETH Zurich), I now work as a consultant for businesses and international NGOs and educate the public on how environmental factors impact our health.

Driven by the belief that "people can’t be healthy on a sick planet," I’ve made it my mission to bridge science, advocacy, and action, promoting a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.

And now… I’ve been selected for something big…

✨ I’ve Been Accepted to Homeward Bound!

Homeward Bound is a prestigious global leadership program for women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine).

This year-long journey will connect me with an incredible international network of changemakers and culminate in an in-person meeting in Tanzania — a life-changing, purpose-driven experience.

But the program is very expensive, and I need to raise funds to cover:

✨ Why This Matters?

Only 10–20% of women in STEMM make it into leadership roles, despite making up 60% of university graduates. That gap has serious consequences for innovation, equity, and solving the biggest challenges of our time, like climate change and public health.

Homeward Bound exists to change that. It equips women like me with:

This is more than just a trip. It’s a launchpad for women leaders building a better world.

✨ Why Fund Me?

I’m going through this program because:

✅ I want to leave a positive impact on the world

✅ I want to educate and empower others through science

✅ I want to fight pollution, misinformation, and climate inaction

✅ I want to collaborate on real-world solutions

✅ I want to help policymakers and businesses make science-informed decisions

By supporting me, you’re investing in:

‍✨ More about me

Passionate about nature, I grew up watching documentary series about the natural world. My idol is Jane Goodall.

I ended up as a “lab rat”, studying biology and specialising in the biomedical field. I researched cancer, wound healing, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, vaccine development, and tissue engineering.

Check my LinkedIn for my details on my career: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreia-fernandes-eth/

Nevertheless, it is in Nature that I am my happiest self.

My children are one of the strongest reasons why I want to protect this world. I want them to be able to have a healthy planet and to experience the beauty of this world like I have so far.

I am a very proactive person, and I like to be useful and work on impactful projects.

Back in 2014, I volunteered as an English teacher in a small village in Vietnam. I am also doing science outreach for children with Native Scientist and Skype a Scientist, bringing passion for science to children in schools and raising awareness for the triplanetary crisis.

I also volunteered for 2 years as a project manager and board member of a student association that organised career events for life scientists, and mediated panel discussions.

I am currently dedicating my free time to creating educational content on social media, teaching about environmental factors that affect our health, and providing tips for how to reduce our exposure and live healthier lives.

Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/onehealthscience/

With the training I will receive from Homeward Bound and the passion I carry, I hope I will be able to work on many more impactful projects.

Donate if you think that my work is valuable and want to support me. Any amount is deeply appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️

Andreia Fernandes, PhD

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