My name is Daniela Figueiredo and I am portuguese. I have always liked nature and in my scientific career I tried to go forward in the understanding of ecological trends of freshwater cyanobacterial blooms. In 1999, I graduated in Biology at the University of Aveiro (Portugal). Then, after a short internship at the University of Montpellier (France) and a post graduation in Applied Ecology (2001) at the University of Porto (Portugal), I have completed a master in Molecular Microbiology (2003) and a PhD in Biology (2010) at the University of Aveiro (Portugal), where I worked as a postdoc and as researcher at CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies). Throughout these years, I have had the chance to study several ecological, taxonomical and molecular aspects of aquatic microbial communities, with a special focus on Cyanobacteria. This research has culminated in more than 20 papers, 10 book chapters and 70 communications. However, in parallel to science, I have always felt impelled to share my science knowledge and research by presenting the fascinating phytoplankton organisms to the general public and a wide range of school children and young adults (from pre-school to secondary school) which has proven to be a challenge but also very gratifying. This interest for science communication has grown and presently it it is a dear area of research to me as well.