Raquel Branquinho holds a BSc in Microbiology from the Faculty of Biotechnology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2004) and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade do Porto (2014). With a distinguished career dedicated to democratizing science, she has been at the forefront of public engagement in science, science communication (SciComm), and citizen science, particularly in rural regions. Her work bridges academia and society, making scientific knowledge accessible, actionable, and impactful for underserved communities. She is the co-founder and president of ARMA-Sci, a pioneering NGO that promotes scientific literacy and participatory science in Armamar and other rural areas. Under her leadership, ARMA-Sci has launched transformative educational and engagement programs, strengthening the science capital of these regions. Her work fosters grassroots collaboration between schools, municipalities, research institutions, and the broader community to co-develop solutions for local sustainability challenges. She has led projects such as GOMA (Gomes Teixeira Science Academy), an initiative that brings together students, educators, scientists, and civil society to co-create knowledge and address local issues. Additionally, she leading the organization of two editions of the Rural European Researchers’ Night in Armamar, a landmark initiative that showcased the power of citizen engagement in science. This initiative was recognized internationally, including features in PLOS SciComm and AESIS (Network for Societal Impact of Science). Other ARMA-Sci flagship initiatives include: Tapas de Ciência, Inspiring Science Women and Advent Calendar of Science. In addition, its collaboration with the Centro Interpretativo da Mulher Duriense (CIMD), co-leading community-based initiatives to strengthen the role of women in science, has been instrumental in linking science with cultural heritage and gender perspectives. Academically, Raquel is a senior researcher at U.Porto/FLUP and an esteemed international expert in science management, public engagement, and communication. She has successfully secured competitive fellowships and research contracts, including the Assistant Researcher contract under CEEC-INST/2018, an FCT-funded contract, and an exchange fellowship from U.Porto. Her research expertise spans scientific literacy, participatory methodologies, SciComm strategies, and community-driven research models. Raquel has a proven track record in designing and facilitating SciComm training programs for researchers (e.g., SciComm4All) and in leading STEM literacy programs in schools, including ‘The Invisible Life of Bacteria’ (microbiology literacy for primary schools), ‘The Science of Science Communication’ (SciComm for secondary schools), and the Ser-Pro initiative (health literacy in professional courses). Her involvement in international projects and networks, such as EuroScitizen, Science-Toastmasters, and MicroMundo, underscores her commitment to science education and outreach. Her academic and professional contributions have been widely recognized, with 12 national and international awards for her scientific, SciComm, and social entrepreneurship contributions. She has participated in dozens of research projects funded by institutions like the European Commission and FCT and has authored hundreds of scientific publications, books, and educational resources. She has also supervised one PhD student, and six undergraduate and postgraduate students.