Gustavo Requena Santos

Gustavo grew up in Southeastern Brazil, inspired by nature on his grandparents’ farm. His passion for nature motivated him to become a field biologist and led him to a career path in academic research and higher education. Gustavo dedicated over 15 years to help college students connect their curiosity about nature to science, guiding them through the transformative path of critical thinking. He believes that such transformation, however, should not be restricted to colleges, but accessible to everyone.

In 2018, Gustavo chose Connecticut to be his new home, and non-formal science education and outreach to be his new career. He currently serves on the Board of the NAAEE affiliate in Connecticut (CT Outdoor & Environmental Education Association) and has been supporting outdoor education as the perfect format to stimulate kids’ and adults’ curiosity about nature and connect them to science.

In 2020, Gustavo joined the Neighborhood Leadership Program from the Community Foundation for the Greater New Haven. Inspired by the stories and actions of so many community leaders, Gustavo decided to found the Science Yourself initiative as a way to celebrate, connect, and support professionals and community members that value science literacy, critical thinking, and science-based programs in the Greater New Haven area and across Connecticut.