A modern Renaissance woman. An excelling medical student. A polymath drawing the threads between knowledge, learning, and feeling who balances her rigorous medical studies with a extensive array of creative and leadership pursuits that extend far beyond the walls of Humanitas—the medical university she attends in Milan, Italy. There is no one way to truly describe this incredible person in all her essence, because there are just so many ways to describe her.

A multi-passionate creative who’s making beautiful work all the time whether it’s in science, in the arts, in tech…Cesca’s pursuits span from classical guitar to content creation, creating apps, modeling, drawing, writing, photography…the list goes on! A true inspiration for so many people around the world, she beautifully embodies the ideals of a modern Renaissance woman and sees science as an art form that bridges knowledge and creativity.

A leader by heart, whether at university as the President of the Humanitas Undergrad Neuro Society, or at YSI as Head of Research and Leader of our Italy Chapter, Cesca is an authentic role model for students in the communities she’s in. And speaking of leadership, as she embraces the Renaissance spirit of learning and growing across multiple disciplines, Cesca is now working on building and leading a global community of polymaths called The Modern Renaissance. A transformative community that embodies a living experiment of what polymathy looks like in the 21st century.

Fascinated by neuroscience, she’s always researching topics like consciousness and free will, reading and writing articles and also a book with Amirali called Neuro Post-it.

So, you may see Cesca one day leading groundbreaking research on consciousness all while composing songs to play on the guitar, writing more books and editions of Neuro Post-it, creating more apps, posting amazing videos and impacting lives globally through leading The Modern Renaissance.

There is not a thing she cannot do. And this episode only provides a glimpse into the marvellous person she is and all the tremendous things she’s doing.

Watch the full seventh episode of Across STEM with YSI as Cesca talks about her background, med school, the Renaissance (past and modern), her projects, neuroscience, time management, and A LOT more—although, a second and probably a third episode is needed. This episode only provides a glimpse into who she is and the things she does.

Also on Spotify!

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Helping healthcare professionals boost their brand. An advocate for women’s health globally. Refusing to just stick to dentistry and making a difference with all the things she’s passionate about, Souad has uniquely merged her path in dentistry with storytelling, ghostwriting, and LinkedIn strategy, as she embodies authenticity and resilience in a way that truly resonates with thousands.

Learn more about the incredible person Souad is and the exciting things she’s doing in episode 6 of Across STEM with YSI.

Also on Spotify!

Make sure to follow and rate Across STEM with YSI on Spotify for more inspiring episodes coming your way 🙌🏼

Thanks for watching the sixth episode of Across STEM with YSI! Subscribe to watch more episodes when they’ve been published <3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amiralibanani.substack.com

That’s only a surface-level intro on the amazing person Dr. Reid is and how she’s helping women worldwide live better lives in such a daunting world where so many ridiculous societal pressures still exist. Watch the entire fifth episode of our new podcast at Youth STEM Initiative to learn more about Dr. Alexandra Reid, her inspiring story, and how she went from being a scientist researching plant molecular biology to becoming a coach for women worldwide.

Also on Spotify!

Make sure to follow and rate Across STEM with YSI on Spotify for more inspiring episodes coming your way 🙌🏼

Thanks for watching the fifth episode of Across STEM with YSI! Subscribe to watch more episodes when they’ve been published <3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amiralibanani.substack.com

Rosario joined Youth STEM Initiative earlier this year as a Researcher and is a founding member of our relatively new Italian Chapter. With SISM he’s helped organize the Global Research & Innovation Talks (GRIT) webinar series which multiple people from Youth STEM Initiative joined to hear from experts from a variety of STEM—particularly medical—fields and featured a presentation of YSI in its sixth episode. He also presented about Public Health and Prevention at STEM Quest 2.0 in June, a super insightful session that you can watch here!

A super humble guy who deeply cares about making the lives of people better in his country and beyond. Rare in the modern world.

That’s only a surface-level intro. Watch the entire fourth episode of our new podcast at Youth STEM Initiative to learn more about Rosario and all the amazing things he’s doing in Italy and in the medical world!

Also on Spotify!

Make sure to follow and rate Across STEM with YSI on Spotify for more inspiring episodes coming your way 🙌🏼

Thanks for watching the fourth episode of Across STEM with YSI! Subscribe to watch more episodes when they’ve been published <3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amiralibanani.substack.com

Zoe originally joined Youth STEM Initiative as a researcher and is now also the leader of our Greece Chapter. An ambitious student and an amazing scientific writer (here is one of her pieces on synthetic biology in vertical farming), Zoe is aspiring to dive deeper into the world of emerging tech with a thirst for knowledge and a drive to innovate to battle humanity’s biggest threats. Her passion for genetic engineering and innovations in synthetic biology—and how they connect to agricultural markets—has led her to projects redefining environmental sustainability and food production to aid poorer countries where hunger is prevalent. Never mind all the diplomacy and public speaking she does—you may even see her in the UN one day!

Already saving lives in high school and exploring scientific innovations that can sustain humanity in such a desperate age.

That’s just a surface-level intro. Watch the third episode of our new podcast at Youth STEM Initiative to learn more about Zoe and all the inspiring things she’s involved in!

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Chris shares his incredible journey from a childhood fascination with science to his current research in experience-dependent synaptic plasticity and neural circuit regulation through patch-clamp electrophysiology. Their discussion delves into the challenges and rewards of neuroscience research, highlighting the importance of curiosity and collaboration in scientific discovery and innovation. Chris also reflects on the evolving landscape of neuroscience education and the potential breakthroughs in neural regeneration and sensory restoration, while also providing his thoughts on America’s critical role in research at a time when it’s at stake.

Watch the entire episode to learn more about Chris, his research, and how he’s contributing to making a difference in neuroscience 🧠🎙️

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As the Executive Director of Eunoia Global Health and the Founder of a youth literary magazine, Anshi brings a deeply human-centered perspective to science communication. She opens up about facing over 150 rejections as a young writer, navigating imposter syndrome, and pushing back against a toxic hustle culture that has plagued the modern world.

But at the heart of it all is her belief in the power of authentic storytelling — especially in STEM spaces that often feel inaccessible. From cold emailing strangers to leading international projects, Anshi shows that making an impact isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being bold, curious, and true to yourself.

Anshi’s take? You don’t need to fit the traditional STEM mold to make an impact—just curiosity, courage, and a willingness to start. And interdisciplinary work? That goes a LONG way!

Watch the entire episode to learn more about Anshi, her journey, and how she’s contributing to making a meaningful difference in STEM education and global health 🔬🎙️

Thanks for watching Across STEM with YSI! Subscribe to watch more episodes when they’ve been published <3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amiralibanani.substack.com