Hanna Västinsalo

Hanna comes from the Finnish countryside, where she spent her childhood running around forests. She represented Finland in the International Space Camp and Biology Olympiad before studying in the University of Helsinki. For over a decade she traveled the world attending science conferences, and published nine research articles before defending her PhD thesis in Molecular Genetics. Hanna has always felt the need to tell stories and loved films. She made several short films during her PhD studies about science, dance and Finnish folklore. She likes to mix science facts with the magic of life. She was awarded the Sloan Scholarship to study directing at the AFI Conservatory, as well as grants from the Finnish Film Foundation, Finlandia Foundation and Oskar Öflunds stiftelse.