Science communication and media: 

Dissemination of science to kids: 

In the last years, I had the privilege of bringing science and research into primary school classrooms, both in the Netherlands and Italy. As someone who loves writing stories for children, these encounters became much more than outreach activities—they became moments of wonder.

I believe that every child is born with the curiosity of a scientist. Every question they ask is the beginning of discovery. Through stories, experiments, and conversations, I hope to show them that science is not distant or difficult—it is an adventure, a way of looking at the world with open eyes and an inquisitive mind. Watching children connect imagination with discovery is truly magical. If even one child leaves the classroom believing that they, too, can ask bold questions, explore the unknown, and contribute to our understanding of the world, then those moments have achieved something extraordinary. Because science belongs to everyone, and every great discovery begins with curiosity.

• “How Can Dogs and Cats Help to Cure Human Cancers?” https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2021.700432
• Primary school seminars: "Discovering the world hidden in the microscope“
• Meet the Professor 2026 https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/meet-the-professor 

    Invited talks and keynotes: 

Prinses Maxima Liquid biopsy committee meeting, Prinses Maxima Centre, Utrecht: Application of cell cycle genes as cancer biomarkers. 3 October 2022.

Joint Congress Of Veterinary Pathology And Veterinary Clinical Pathology 2019: Liquid biopsies; The Potential Role of EVs as Biomarkers in Veterinary Medicine. 25-28 September  2019, Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, the Netherlands.

BSAVA Congress 2018: Controversies in the histopathological diagnosis of skin disease (together with Dr Tim Nuttall), 5-8 April 2018, Birmingam, UK.

BSAVA Congress 2018: What your pathologist is trying to tell you and questions you should ask them, 5-8 April 2018, Birmingam, UK.

BSAVA Congress 2018: How to do a post mortem examination in general practice and get diagnostic results, 5-8 April 2018, Birmingam, UK.

Research Seminar, University of Perugia, 18th June 2015, Perugia (Italy): Canine Melanoma as a model for the study of human melanoma. 

Comparative Pathology Joint Seminar University of Bern (Switzerland), 20-01-2015, together with Dr Yara Banz (Pathology Unit, University of Bern): Naturally occurring melanoma in dogs as a model for human melanoma.

II Joint European Congress of the ESVP, ECVP, ESTP- Berlin, 27th - 30th August 2014: The International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology: objective, goals and future prospects.

Editorial board roles: 

• co-Editor of the Frontiers Special Issue “Canine Melanoma in Comparative Oncology: Translate Research Advances to Develop New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options”

Academic publishing: 

Author of the book chapters: 

• Smedley R.C. and Bongiovanni L. Tumors of Melanocytic Origin. In: Tumors in Domestic Animals, 6th Edition by Munday J.S. and Meuten D.J. 2026.
• Bongiovanni L. La necroscopia del coniglio (Rabbit’s necropsy). In: Selleri P., Di Girolamo N., Collarile T. Medicina degli Animali Esotici. Poletto Ed. 2017.
• Brachelente C, Sforna M, Porcellato I, Bongiovanni L, De Maria R, Mechelli L. Il melanoma maligno canino in oncologia comparata (Canine melanoma in comparative oncology). In: Guarda F and Bollo E. I modelli animali spontanei per lo studio della fisiologia e patologia dell’uomo (Spontaneous animal models for phisiology and pathology studies in humans), Ed. Fondazione Iniziative Zooprofilattiche Zootecniche di Brescia. 2017.
• Romanucci M, Bongiovanni L, Massimini M. L'osteosarcoma del cane come modello di studio in oncologia comparata (canine osteosarcoma as a model in the study of comaprative oncology). In: Guarda F and Bollo E. I modelli animali spontanei per lo studio della fisiologia e patologia dell’uomo (Spontaneous animal models for phisiology and pathology studies in humans), Ed. Fondazione Iniziative Zooprofilattiche Zootecniche di Brescia. 2017.
• Dermatologia Felina (Feline Dermatology – clinical cases of self-evaluation) . Editors: Leone F, Colombo S, Dedola C, Zanna G, Albanese F. – Ed. SIDEV (Italian Society Veterinary Dermatology). 2015.