Voices of Leadership: Redefining Success and Driving Change
What does it mean to lead?
This season on Voices of Leadership, we’re stepping into the stories of women who are redefining success and thriving on the edge of change. From trailblazing pioneers to resilient entrepreneurs and unwavering visionaries—meet the iconoclasts who refuse to be bound by convention.
Join us for candid conversations that will ignite your curiosity, provide inspiration for what comes next and remind us all that leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about making a lasting impact.
Voices of Leadership: Redefining Success and Driving Change
The Art of Science with Ibukun Elebute: Nanotechnology, Pap Smears, and Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
What happens when we blur the boundaries between art and science?
What might that look like? Perhaps you could give students in Nigeria the opportunity to put their innovations on display through science fairs, or maybe it’s finding groundbreaking ways to screen for cancer and HPV—without needing a pap smear.
The speculum, a tool most women dread, has remained virtually unchanged for nearly a century. It’s a device that feels more like a relic than a modern solution. And yet, it’s still accepted practice in women’s health today.
That is, until now
No speculum. No pap smear. Instead, IBK’s work with CELLECT is unlocking the immense potential of menstrual blood and using nanoscience to do it.
CELLECT isn’t the only place IBK is blending arts and science. She’s using science fairs as a tool for sparking genuine curiosity and fostering innovation. Through the STEMite Zone, IBK is not just reimagining the science fair. She’s transforming it into a launchpad for the next generation of African innovators.
Resources
CELLECT Website
CELLECT LinkedIn
STEMite Zone Website
STEMite Zone Instagram
IBK Instagram
IBK on Spotify
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So my advice really is take your unique raw materials is what I'll call them and use that to make your unique imprint. And you don't have to put yourself in a box In this kind of podcast where I get to express, like the different things that I do might be hard to see, like if there's a unifying purpose across, but there actually is across, but there actually is and it's the fact that I've taken all the unique gifts, experiences, exposures that I've had, I've had the opportunity that life has given me and looking at how can I make the best use of all of this without putting myself in a box. Right, I think we're easily boxed into like, oh my gosh, I am an engineer and I have to just follow that path.
Amy:Meanwhile, you have other experiences and other gifts and talents that you can also put to use and make an impact in the world. Think about this we're taught to see sciences and arts as opposites, as two distinct worlds that rarely intersect. But what if that assumption is wrong? What if the magic happens when we blur the boundaries between art and science? What might that look like? Perhaps you could give students in Nigeria the opportunity to put their innovations on display through Science Fair. Or maybe it's about finding groundbreaking ways to screen for cancer and HPV without needing a pap smear.
Amy:Welcome to Voices of Leadership, my podcast that tells the stories of women who are redefining success and thriving on the edge of change. Today I talk with Ibukun Elbut, or IBK as she's known to her friends. She is part scientist, part artist and entirely visionary. Ibk is the founder of the StemMate Zone, an initiative that gives students the opportunity to see themselves as future problem solvers and changemakers. Ironically, she herself is a problem solver and changemaker is co-founder of Select, a company that is pioneering the use of menstrual blood as a non-invasive and accessible alternative for cancer and HPV screening. Select is an innovative company using nanotechnology to improve women's health care. This startup is working to empower women by making screenings less daunting, less uncomfortable and more accessible. The Stemite Zone is bringing the opportunity of science fair to schools in Nigeria. Bringing the opportunity of science fair to schools in Nigeria.
Amy:Now, I don't know about you, but many of my science fair experiences involved scrambling to get letters and graphs glued to a trifle board. How is IBK doing it differently? That is what I'm most curious about. First, I'm going to ask you how do you say your name?
IBK:Ibukun, ibukun. I also go by IBK, I saw that, so first I'm going to try Ibukun, right? Yes, that's correct. Oh look, I'm so excited IBK.
Amy:I like it. So did you come up with that short form? Or did somebody give it to you? My parents.
IBK:I literally have a birthday cake for when I was one and it says IBK is one on the cake. So it goes as far back as that, that's pretty funny. And did you grow up here or in Nigeria? So Nigeria I was there till I was about 13 and moved to France because my dad, you know, works in the oil and gas and he got a transfer there and then moved to Canada. All on my own, All on your own. I wasn't even 16 yet when I moved to.
Amy:Canada. Good for you. So where did you go, like, how did you finish? Did you finish high school here?
IBK:Yeah, so I did grade 12 here it was a boarding school in Hamilton, it's called Columbia National College and then from there I did my bachelor's in Carleton and then went back to Nigeria for a year because I missed it a lot, and then came back, did my master's in University of Saskatchewan, worked in Calgary, worked in Halifax and then came to Kitchener and then doing a part-time master's in University of Waterloo in entrepreneurship.
Amy:Oh, are you? I know about that program is it good, do you like it? So are you doing it right now?
IBK:Yes, second year part-time.
Amy:Congratulations. So, just for context, we sort of met. I saw you speak at the Catalyst Commons, at the SheTechTalks that they have. I think it's every quarter that they have it. Yes, and your story really inspired me and I was really interested in all the things that you're doing. So you're meeting me for the first time, but I feel like I've met you already.
Amy:Yeah, and you're so warm, oh, thank you. So I'm going to just start with the bigger philosophical question, that sort of talk, convergence of art and science, because you are both a musician and a scientist and I think it just brings such a unique perspective. So can you talk to us about the transformative power of combining creativity and technology, which then leads to innovation in unexpected ways?
IBK:Yeah, so I have this theory that science and arts are not separate. I think they come very hand in hand and they help you shine in both. So, as a scientist, I find that tapping into my creative side helps me. And if you think of it, like the whole premise of innovation is around being able to be creative in your solution. Okay, yeah, science helps you to discover, but when it comes to innovation, you're using creative ways to to solve or address what you have surfaced you know from, from science. And so for me, like I think that's actually probably why, why engineering actually appeals a lot to me. And so for me, like I think that's actually probably why engineering actually appeals a lot to me.
IBK:And then, on the other side too, as an artist, I think there is something about finding the science behind how things work, you know, and being able to be repeatable. And yes, you know there's a creative side to art. But like there are times where you need to be able to discipline yourself even though you don't feel like it. I mean, I think I found that a lot, especially with songwriting, where there's a method, at least that works for me, and that's really finding the science of it. So, yeah, I think they converge People on. No one make it happen that way, and I think people just need to understand that they combine and they overlap more than we realize.
Amy:Yes, I've talked to a couple of musicians and they say math and music are quite highly correlated. Yes, yes.
IBK:My mom's a mathematician and I wouldn't say she's the strongest music person, but her dad is a musician and I've actually heard a lot of people saying that, like how math and music are correct.
Amy:Well, I like that you have a theory and then obviously, I think it informs all the things that you do, whether it's in music or in science.
IBK:Yes, yes, yes.
Amy:Not everybody does so that's pretty impressive to have that already.
IBK:Yeah, as a guiding principle, I guess. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Amy:So I want to talk a little bit about Select, but before we talk about what your company does and its role in advancing women's health, I'd like to talk a little bit about the startup side, because that's a different thing and we live in Waterloo and Waterloo region and that's kind of you meet a startup every third person you meet and I'm not sure that everybody understands what's involved and how it all works. So can you talk to us a bit about you and your co-founder's journey to launching a biotech startup?
IBK:Yeah, thanks. Thanks for that question. So first of all, I have to give credit to Kate of you. One of the reasons why I moved here was because of just, I wanted to be plugged into the entrepreneurship ecosystem and I just thought to myself that just moving here in and of itself I would let the magic happen, and that's exactly what happened. So, you know, actually, just taking the degree in University of Waterloo, the entrepreneurship program was really to plug myself in, and my goal was to find someone who was doing a health tech-related research project in their master's and their PhD that I could come to support.
IBK:So my background is biomedical engineering. I've had about 10 years in the industry, in health tech specifically, and so it just came up time to be like you know what I want, to be able to create something, and I think the best use of the skills and experience that I have would be to come join someone who's like a core scientist to bring this, to bring whatever it is they're doing to market. And so because of that, you know, I started to go to a lot of events at the University of Waterloo, and that included the Velocity they had like a cornerstone program at the beginning of the year and I just went in, you know, with an idea of my own as well and you know the objective of that was to, like, validate, speak to as many people as you can to validate whatever idea it was. And that's where I met CT Murphy, my co-founder, and we immediately clicked. Actually, we're working on two different things at the time, but you know there was just that. Oh hey, like you know, we just kind of vibed on that first day and you know it was a 10-day program and you know we kept in touch after that.
IBK:And, long story short, come June of this year I decided to join her because she was looking for a co-founder and I just thought like hey, like this is the reason why I started this. I came on this journey in the first place. So, yeah, we started Select. Well, I joined her with Select, she already started Select at the time and obviously she's working on the development of the IP of Select through her master's full-time, which is amazing. And you know I'm just really here to support the business development of it.
Amy:Obviously, you know being supported with my background in biomedical engineering and that type of thing, so yeah, Wow, that's such an interesting journey and so proactive just of you to come here and recognize that if you come and meet enough people, there probably will be an opportunity that presents itself.
IBK:Exactly, Exactly. I mean I like to think of KW as the Silicon Valley of Canada.
Amy:So you joined in June? Yes, and then? What is your main role then and what are you doing to support the technology? I guess?
IBK:Yeah for sure.
IBK:So I let her do all the science, which is a lot of work and I could, just because I've done a master's research project myself and I know how consuming it is.
IBK:So I just try to carry everything else as much as I can and the goal of that is like I just wanted to be able to focus on the science so that she can speed up with that process. She is CEO, she has very, very great soft skills that you know are befitting for the role. But I think that's the beauty of like being able to combine with, I'll say, like we're very like, we're very super women in the sense, like we're very driven, two very driven people, and that's what makes me excited about the success of Select. So yeah, I primarily just help, you know, as a COO, just operations, a lot of business development for now. So like helping with like the fundraising, like validation research, just like the regulatory stuff and all of that stuff that you have to go through in the medical device pathway, yes, yes, have you met other co-founders in the femtech space, because I know that's a growing space?
IBK:Yes, yes, I think one of the amazing things I have enjoyed about this journey so far is having that support. Having someone like Rachel Betholomew, which is very easy, easy reach is, has been phenomenal. The other day she spent like two hours with us.
Amy:Oh, that's fantastic. She was on one of the other parts. She was on this is perimenopause and her episodes coming up and I'm so excited because that interview was so much fun.
IBK:Yeah, look, look out for Rachel's podcast. She's an amazing person. I really love her. I admire her as a person and just what she's doing in the femtech space and not only building her femtech company, but also being very passionate about making a lot more sprout out and supporting that wave.
Amy:Yes, it's a very interesting story. So that's wonderful that you've connected with that support system, because I feel like it's a growing subsect of startups, the Femtech support system. Yes, let's pause for a moment and consider this, the speculum, a tool most women dread I know I do. It has remained virtually unchanged for nearly a century Developed in the mid-1800s, first used in cervical cancer screenings in 1928, and scientifically validated in 1941, it is a device that feels more like a relic than a modern solution, and yet it is still the accepted practice in women's healthcare today, that is, until now. This is where things so let's talk a little bit about the science behind Select. So it's a collection device. So can you give us an example of, then? What company would use your technology in conjunction with its diagnostics?
IBK:I guess Okay, so maybe I'll give a little bit of background.
Amy:Yes, please, all the background, because I don't actually know all the background, which is why we're here. Yeah, for sure.
IBK:So first of all, I'll just go with the way things are traditionally done right now, Like pap smears everyone hates them. Yes, you see the speculum CT and I joke that it looks like a medieval torture device, and the whole idea there is to be able to scrape cervical cells from the cervix of the woman. And then that goes to right now in Canada they take it to a cytology lab where it's observed and they look for abnormal cells and that's, you know, indications for cervical cancer. I mean, there's a better way to do it, which is HPV DNA which is compatible with Select, and that's what Canada is switching to.
Amy:Oh OK.
IBK:So yeah, like that's that, and then sorry, I have to go back to your question.
Amy:No, that's OK, so you collect the menstrual blood and then how does a company then use it to diagnose things without doing a pap smear?
IBK:I guess yeah so, basically, select is coming as a collection, like the way pap smears are, like, where you're collecting cells. But what for us? We're leveraging the power of nanotechnology, which I can go a bit more into. I do I'm like totally mildly obsessed with the idea of nanotechnology.
Amy:Because you see it in movies and you're like, is that real?
IBK:Well, yeah, it is, I know.
Amy:Because Waterloo has such a strong nanotechnology program and so. I've heard about it from a variety of people. So what drew you to that? I guess on a sidebar, yeah.
IBK:So it's on the side there. So nanotechnology is being able to manipulate the properties of a material, because you're able to do that at a nano level, so 1 to 900 nanometers. So it doesn't necessarily mean that, you like, we're dealing with nanoparticles. It just means we are synthesized, we're engineering at the nano level and with that you're able to make it have desirable properties at the nano level, and with that you're able to, you know, make it have desirable properties. So in our case, we're using it to extract DNA from menstrual blood and cervical cells. And when you see nano, it's even smaller than cells. So you can imagine what we could do with that, right? So the material itself is something that has its properties, properties and then we're able to, you know, manipulate it and with this, um, the, the dna and uh cells are stabilized with this nanomaterial as well, such that it can be as good for a year, right, um? And then you know that piece, that collection then goes to a lab, um, and then the.
IBK:The beautiful thing about what we're working on is it's compatible with gold standard HPV testing. So they don't need to do anything more than what they would do if, like the pap smear collection goes to the lab as well. In fact, we're making it more efficient because it skips two steps. They don't have to do a PCR amplification they can, but they don't have to because there's a high concentration of the cells and the DNA and they also don't have to extract the DNA because it's already extracted by a nanomaterial. So for us it's about being compatible with the already gold standard HPV DNA testing, making it more efficient in this way, making it cheaper.
Amy:So yeah, I mean, I guess that answers your question in terms of like how it goes from there, so they could then determine HPV cervical cancer. What kind of other things then could it help find?
IBK:So STDs as well. We believe there's more that we can learn about endometriosis. I mean, like you know, like women's health has been underserved. It's crazy that we don't know, as we should know, about things like endometriosis, and for us it's like menstrual blood is such a goldmine that has been untapped up until now. You know, stigmatized, yeah, shame.
Amy:Right, yeah, instead of used Exactly.
IBK:And like I think it is such a gift that we can use to catch up on the years that we have fallen behind, what a great way to look at it. That's fantastic.
Amy:I think any woman who doesn't like a pap smear needs to just give you $20, and then you would be funded, because no one likes them. Exactly, no one likes them Nobody. Now how does it work from a business standpoint then? If you're collecting it, are you selling it to labs, or how does it monetize then for you?
IBK:So for us we plan to take over the whole process. So obviously it's going to be a kit. They use it like a familiar tampon or pad because it's embedded in there and then you send it to our lab and then you receive your results. So I mean, the logistics of how that would work will probably be different depending on how we go to market. So, for example, if we're adopted into provincial screening programs, it would probably make more sense to partner with accredited labs like LifeLabs. If it's a case where we have to go off on our own at first, obviously we'll just kind of handle that. Yeah, okay.
Amy:That's really what it is, because I guess it's a male, so it doesn't matter. You could have one central lab and do it all from there, Exactly exactly, and then would you give results. Would you then determine results at the lab?
IBK:Yeah. So if it's with the provincial screening program, I think it will make sense that the results go to the doctor Correct and communicate it to the patient. In a case where we're not in partnership with the doctors, to be less liable, we would just say hey, this is normal, this is what you're seeing. We highly recommend that you see a doctor.
Amy:So you can skip the medical side of it by just providing information.
IBK:Yes, exactly which I mean we would all be happy with more information.
Amy:I think at the end of the day, yeah, yeah yeah.
IBK:So I mean, the good thing about it is we don't have the onboard diagnostics right. So the whole idea is, you know we're not doing any like. It's de-risked in the fact that we are compatible with gold standards. So, depending on how our regulatory goes, it would determine what we can do in terms of, like, giving people results and how that would be presented. But yeah, it's gold standard stuff.
Amy:Right. And then from a marketing standpoint, it would have to be almost a re-education that this is absolutely safe and to standard in place of a pap smear. Yes, how many more? You probably get so much more information because so many women probably don't even bother because they don't want to or they don't have access to it. Right, exactly.
IBK:Yeah, as actually Cancer Care Ontario reports that only 60% of women due for screenings are getting them. Wow, so it's a whole 40% not doing anything.
Amy:And I'm assuming Canada is no different than around the world, so this could have global applications eventually.
IBK:Yeah, it's probably worse outside of US, canada and like maybe places in Europe, there are places where there's cultural barriers around, like you know how pap smiths are traditionally done, like you know trauma, like there are different things that are keeping people from getting screened with the traditional ways.
Amy:That's so fascinating. What a great, what a great idea and what a great way to use the things that are in front of you, and if we can catch up and make a difference, it sounds fantastic.
IBK:Now.
Amy:I mentioned that I produce another podcast called this is Perimenopause, and the two hosts, Michelle and Mikal. They would expect me to ask you how to select provide options for women who don't menstruate or have other reproductive health factors. Can they still benefit from this technology?
IBK:This is a very good question health factors can they still benefit from this technology? This is a very good question, a question we get often, so I think for us, it's very important. About accessibility I mean, there's like I think it's 30% of women who do not menstruate right, and so, because we're dealing with a nanomaterial, the amount of fluid that's needed to do anything with is between 5 to 15 millimeters cubed, which is very small. So, that being said, we can apply the same principles to vaginal discharges, right, and vaginal fluids. It's not what we're looking at right now, but it's on our roadmap, right, and, yeah, it's very important on our roadmap, right, and yeah, it's very important. And I think, yes, we know what's in menstrual blood, but we have very high indications that we'll probably be able to get similar type of information from discharges as well.
Amy:Well, that's great, because I think that's all people want to know is that it's on the roadmap, because you are a startup and people have to remember that. There are a hundred things to do and you're probably on seven I would think somewhere around there. But it's good. You have to have the conversation that it just lends itself to accessibility right, yes, yes, exactly exactly.
Amy:Let's talk about science fairs for a moment.
Amy:Innovative nanotechnology that will change the landscape of women's health is great, but science fair is what I really wanted to talk to IBK about. If you're like me, you probably remember the frantic scramble of cutting out graphs, gluing letters to a trifold board and hoping your last-minute effort would hold together under the bright lights of the gym. The only real change I've seen in recent years An online standardized science fair template that you have to print in advance, which somehow manages to make the process even less creative. But what if science fairs weren't about checking boxes and following templates? What if they were a tool for sparking genuine curiosity and fostering innovation? That's exactly what IBK is doing with the STEMite zone. She's not just reimagining the science fair, she's transforming it into a launchpad for the next generation of African innovators. Picture this students building guitars from local materials, starting a small business or even tackling a social science project yes, social science, bringing art and science together. Once again and here's the most striking part IBK isn't just teaching students how to solve problems, she's challenging the cultural barriers to innovation.
Amy:One of my favorite parts of our conversation is her story about brooms versus vacuums. As a parent, I've seen how curiosity in kids can get stifled by rules, restrictions and a lot of no's. But IBK's approach is different. So how does it work? What can schools around the world learn from this? And could this model change how we see science fairs entirely? I think so, because what she's building doesn't sound like any science fair I've ever been to.
Amy:Okay, so now I want to talk. Let's talk about Science Fair. This actually, I have to say, is the thing I'm most curious about and what intrigued me about having a conversation with you. So because I don't know, growing up you talked about, you know, living in Nigeria and living in France and then coming over here. So I have no idea what your Science Fair experience was like, but ours here in Canada is generally a trifold background and some letters and some grass and a potato or a volcano, so I don't know what yours was like. So that's why I'm curious to hear a little bit about. Is it Stemite Zone? Is that?
IBK:correct yeah, the Stemite Zone.
Amy:The Stemite Zone, where you encourage creative thinking and scientific exploration and you create opportunities for young Africans to contribute to the global STEM landscape. So what inspired you to start this initiative?
IBK:I think the big thing for me was going through the Nigerian education system myself and seeing how far different it is from here. You know because you know, like I mentioned, I was in Nigeria until I was about 13. My parents tried to give us the best education, but even at that, like we didn't have. We didn't have like scientific projects or anything like that. It was a little bit, but not too much. Instead, we had like math competitions and debates and that type of thing.
Amy:Oh, we don't have enough debates here though, so that's you know, that's a good thing. They're very heavy on that in Nigeria, that's good.
IBK:But like nothing like science fairs. And so when I moved here, you know, just seeing how very different, you know things are, and I think what made me, what allowed me to have that experience firsthand, was when I was doing my master's, I happened to be doing a lot of volunteer work with science outreach programs. It just happened to be the case I was doing like three or four of them and I was just so amazed at how, you know, being able to connect science, like what they were learning in class, to the real world, like how it would just spark them and like they're just like bright eyed and, you know, just eager to learn, and I'm like, oh, this is something I missed, you know, growing up in Nigeria. Then, later on, I volunteered with the Calgary Science Fair when I was working there and I was a judge, and I was just so fascinated Trust me, it's not volcanoes and potatoes.
IBK:Like they have more fascinating things, and I'm like this kid is what in grade two, like how did they come up with that? And I think that was like where I was like, oh my gosh, like why don't we have this back home? And could this be the reason why there's a gap in innovation? You know back home as well, and also there's a little story that I have that I think also kind of captures how this is like, how, like the lack of innovation might be a cultural mindset back home. So when I was, you know, growing up, my grandma would come visit us.
IBK:We had a vacuum cleaner and like a broom. A broom is probably not what you imagine when I say broom, because here in Canada broom is like the stick with the brushes, but in Nigeria a broom is like a bunch of wooden tiny sticks that is bundled together and you have to like bend down and like sweep. Um. So we had both and I I was just cleaning the house with a vacuum cleaner. My grandma's like no, you have to chuck that away, you have to use the broom, you have to work. I'm like but why? And she's like that's how we've always done it. Then we have to stick to that um and and I thought that that, like that, captures um. Just how you know, I think the nigerian people are.
IBK:I can speak to nigeria because that's where I grew up, um, you know where, like it's working and we'll just keep doing it like that. You know, we're not trying to make it any better, any efficient, we just stick to it. Um, and so for me it's like, uh, addressing this at a cultural level, and I feel like the way you could do that um is, you know, with, at the graduate level, with the young ones, um, and so for us, at semi-zone fair, it's it's less about just doing a fair. For us it's like a cultural shift, it's we want to be able to, you know, like a, like a movement almost, um, and that's why we, we supplement the fair with like we have a fellowship program. Um, I, I do music for for the stem, my zone fair. So, like I, my plan is to write a song every year.
IBK:So we did a song, it's on it's on on now and the whole idea is because, like I feel like art is very powerful and shifting mindsets. It's a fun way to to do that wow.
Amy:So if it's a cultural movement, how did you, who did you approach first? So you had the idea and I'm gonna do this. So then you look at nigeria and you go where do you start to start getting allies to make this cultural movement? I love that question.
IBK:Because, like you know, like when people have ideas, it's like where do I start from? And for me it was like one of the gifts I thought that I had was the fact that I went back home after my bachelor's and that way I was able to like just see how the people are more closely as an adult right.
IBK:And see okay, this is how to approach the system. And so the fact that I had, I began to build relationships there and I have a very amazing mentor back in Niger. Her name is Adora Mvelo, phenomenal person, and you know, I just told her about the idea and she was like, okay, let's start this way. So we did workshops First of all. We did virtual summer programs this way, so we did the. We did workshops first of all. We did virtual um summer summer programs, um, so we did that. I think it was the year of 2021 and then 2022. We did like a three-day workshop. So those were just like testing the waters, trying to get the word out. And then this year came around and we're like, yeah, let's, let's jump right. And so, um, what I did was, first of all, it was very difficult to penetrate the system.
Amy:Because, like the teachers, are they on board the educators. How does that work?
IBK:It's very different from here, and at first you know how like you're just like, yeah, I'll just shoot a bunch of emails. So I sent like 200 emails to the schools that I had access to. Only like one or two responded. And I'm like, yeah, we probably need to figure out how we're going to do this. And so I started to just look into my network, instead of asking people like, how do you think I can approach this? And one of my friends was like hey, I know someone who runs a. They said that they have like a platform that matches teachers with schools. Um, so I spoke to him and he was like, oh, yeah, I think we can.
IBK:So what we had to do was like we sent, we put up a job posting of like, yeah, we're looking for ambassadors, teachers who are interested, and so we had to actually pay them an honorarium put up on an eight-week program. We we had to create training material, and so through that, they were able to like gradually, work with students in the class. So we worked with the teachers and the teachers kind of, you know, worked with the students. So they picked like five. You know, worked with the students.
IBK:So they picked like five projects from their schools and we worked really closely with them, like giving them support, giving them resources that they need for the schools in underserved regions and stuff like that. And yeah, like we literally almost kind of hand I wouldn't say handheld, but just like we're very part of the process of developing the different projects, right, and so you know that was how we were able to get 120 projects, um, over 30 schools and uh, yeah, it was, it was it turned out way better than I thought it was going to be. There's videos on on youtube, um, but yeah it just it blew our minds like the fact that like know we could pull that together, especially because I live in this part of the world.
Amy:That's what I was going to say. This is your first year and you made it happen with that many schools and that many projects from here. Did you go back for the science fair? Oh, yes, yes.
IBK:I was there for like five weeks prior, you know, just to make sure that everything. But even at that, like I was so busy at the time, it was crazy. But thanks to just like being able to have people on ground, people who know the system, people who you know can go in and talk to the Ministry of Education, and we got their support and all that stuff. But yeah, things work very differently back there I can imagine.
Amy:Yeah, very different.
IBK:That's amazing that you were able to do it and can you tell us about some of the stories and some of the students you met? Yeah, yeah, so, to be honest with you, on the day of the fair I didn't have time to actually go through the project I'm sure you didn't but I had, like great media people and I was able to look through stuff and one I think I spoke to one or two. One of them was like a girl who did a social science project, which we highly encourage, yes, and she was like. She was like very passionate. She was talking about how, like in her community, there's a moral decline and she thought to really understand why this was the case, and so she built like questionnaires and had these surveys and then she presented the results. I thought that was quite interesting because for us, it's less about doing like the crazy big innovations, for now it's about nurturing the curiosity, because I think, you know, curiosity is the birthplace of innovation, right? So there was her project and there was a kid that did like virtual reality stuff. There was a student that created a model of like an estate that was like for low income earners, and it was very, very sustainable. I thought that was interesting. Um, they were, they were very.
IBK:There was kids who actually made guitars out of, like, local materials. There was another one, there was oh my gosh, there's one kid that I happened to speak to, or like there were two of them who, um, they were so like you were going to start a line of business of like skincare products from local materials and they had like different, like soaps, and like they were pitching this thing better than like like your typical entrepreneur. I was like they were like yeah, we're gonna start a business and I was just so inspired by that because, like this, like I was just imagining, like outside of this opportunity that we gave them, you know, perhaps they wouldn't have been able to tap into that dream, you know, of starting up and it might not be that right, but like the fact that they can see that that's possible, I think is powerful.
Amy:It is, and I I really am inspired by the fact that you're talking about science as all ideas. You talked about social science and there was an entrepreneurship in there. I think I mean my experience as a mother from my children. It's actually not that the kids come up with an idea. There's a lot of no's, there's a lot of well, we can't include people and we can't do this and we can't do that. So I feel that sometimes it stifles innovation, but it's really inspiring to hear that you just want to spark curiosity, because if you learn to take your curiosity and turn into something, then when you get older you can possibly turn into something bigger, right?
IBK:Exactly exactly.
Amy:So how does it work? Now, do you have more schools, and when does it happen during the year, like are you busy doing it now or is it later?
IBK:So we did the first one this year in June, ending of June. Next year. I think we might need more time, so we might do it in November, following this particular one. I think the vision right now is to make it times five. This is like a pilot. We did 120 projects. We want to do 500 next year.
IBK:To do that, we're trying to make sure that we're well-partnered. When we did a bit more research, we found that there was actually an organization that has been doing science fairs in Nigeria, but they stopped a while ago and it was just because of how the economy is and stuff like that. And so we reconnected with them and were like, hey, let's partner, let's do this together, and so I think, just leveraging the because they you know credibility they've built over the years, and so us working together with them, I think there's a lot more we could do, you know, with that. And yeah, like right now we're just preparing, like I'm fundraising, trying to raise funds. We're raising $60,000 for next year's event, and the reason for that is we're also looking to have an all-expense-paid trip for a grand prize award winner from the Science Fair to go represent Nigeria at the International Science Engineering Fair in the United States.
Amy:Oh, wow, that was going to be. My question is that do some winners or top projects get opportunities to pursue them further?
IBK:Yeah. So I mean we're going to have to build that out From this year. We awarded, I think, 10 different projects and those projects, especially those in the junior high school, we put in a fellowship program and that fellowship program runs for a year. We have mentors. Much of them are mentors, a lot of them are like people of African descent here in Canada and the United States, and it's just to really help them to refine their projects and see, okay, how can this be more scaled? We're also we help them create a LinkedIn profile. We try to give them like a one or two week internship experience and that type of thing for that fellowship program. So that's what we're doing in way of that, I think.
IBK:From the projects I saw this year, I think there's a lot of work to bring things, to bring us to a place where they're creating projects that can be scaled. But I'm already preparing for that. One of the things I'm also doing is talking to accelerators based out of Nigeria and Africa and saying, ok, this is what we're doing. Is there a potential for us to collaborate if, like, there's a project that actually, like, is ready to?
Amy:go to market Can take it to the next level. That's a great idea.
IBK:So yeah, I mean we're preparing and the whole idea is to be able to do that eventually.
Amy:And so how can people and organizations get involved to support STEMite?
IBK:Yeah, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to do that, to talk about that. So, first of all, I'll say, like you know, we're looking, we're always looking for mentors. So if you're passionate about, like you know, helping out with like students back in Nigeria who like sparking their innovation, helping them to work through refining their projects, helping them to see how they can bring their projects to the next level, you know, please reach out. Also, you know, like I mentioned, we're trying to raise funds for for next year's event. So if, like, corporate sponsors is usually great, you know, not only for the funds but also for the credibility and things like that. So, if you know any organizations that will be willing to partner with us, please reach out. And yeah, like I mean, if I mean, we're also open to like individual donors. Our website is thestemridzonefaircom. If you're willing to just be a part of this, we're happy to receive your donations and, just like, spreading the word as well.
Amy:Okay, well, we'll put everything in the show notes because I think there's lots of people that would find it very interesting and a worthwhile cause. Thank you. I have a couple of sort of general science fair questions because I referenced. There's differences here versus what you're trying to do in Nigeria and you know you mentioned working in Calgary at the science fair and being a judge, and so you sort of see the top tier sort of self-motivated students that want to do it, the top tier sort of self-motivated students that want to do it, but there's a whole triangle below that of students that sometimes students may see science fair, as you know, sort of just another school project. And how do you, how would you inspire them not to take that opportunity for granted?
IBK:I think it's how it's presented to the students, right, because you mentioned like perhaps, like there's a whole thing around, like we want to make sure it's a particular kind of science fair, like that's very, because I've seen some very, very high, high advanced projects where I'm like, oh my gosh, this is from high school.
IBK:But I think also just making it broader, I think maybe having inclusion of social sciences as well, I don't see as much of that in the science fairs in Canada.
IBK:And then you know, just being able to say that, hey, like you don't have to do anything, that's groundbreaking or anything like that, it will be great. But then, more than anything, you're like they're building that muscle of curiosity, building that muscle of how to approach problems from a scientific approach. Like scientific approach right, it's methodical, like there's a way that, like you know, you're able to figure out and uncover different truths about different things that you're curious about. So I think yeah, I mean, I think this is the way that you can, you can make it like more than just a regular school project. Right Is like I think also just also maybe communicating the stakes and saying like, hey, this is an opportunity to represent the school, this is an opportunity to really do something that could stand out, and you get to speak to people that are not your teachers and not your peers about something you've built right, because that's how it's different from like a regular school project.
Amy:Yes, it has opportunities beyond school.
IBK:Exactly yes.
Amy:Well, that's good advice, I think. Hopefully lots of students in schools can listen to that, because I think at Science Fair, the way you talk about it, is really such a way for students to sort of see themselves as future problem solvers and change makers, and I would love to see that in every Science Fair across the world, because what a great opportunity, right? Yes, yes, yes, yes. Change makers. And I would love to see that in every science fair across the world, because what a great opportunity, right.
IBK:Yes, yes yes, yes, I love the way you said change makers. That's the passion behind. This is like we want to raise, we want to nurture the next generation of African innovators.
Amy:So how do you take science fair from Nigeria across Africa? Yeah, so I mean for us now, like I, think it's like step project.
IBK:Yeah, so I mean for us now I think it's like step by step.
IBK:You know, I said we started with the virtual yes, then we did the workshops and then we did this 120. And then what we did this year was like Lagos-wise. So like Lagos is the most populated city in Nigeria, and like Nigeria and like it's like, you know, the business centers like New York, right, so we did that, and then next year we'll do like Lagos and as well as other states across Nigeria, and then the next after that, we'll probably expand to Ghana. So like we have a plan of just taking it like a step at a time, right, and so we imagine that by year five we should be doing, I think, it's, across West Africa. Is the plan Great?
Amy:Well, I can't wait to watch and see it grow.
IBK:I think it's fantastic, Thank you.
Amy:So my final sort of broader question then to you is reflecting on your journey so far. What advice would you give to those aspiring to create meaningful change in their own fields Science fair or masters of entrepreneurship or otherwise?
IBK:Yeah, I think for me, like trying to communicate that, especially like in this kind of podcast where I get to express, like the different things that I do might be hard to see, like if there's a unifying purpose across, but there actually is and it's the fact that I've taken all the unique gifts, experiences, exposures that I've had, I've had the opportunity that life has given me, and looking at how can I make the best use of all of this without putting myself in a box, right, I think we're easily boxed into like, oh my gosh, I am a I don't know an engineer and I have to just follow that path. Meanwhile, you have other experiences and other gifts and talents that you can also put to use and make an impact in the world. So my advice really is take your unique raw materials is what I'll call them and use that to make your unique imprint and you don't have to put yourself in a box. I really think that people have, and a lot of people, I think, are coming to that. Like that you see less and less people just doing just one single thing.
IBK:I think we're realizing that hey, I can have different expressions and I think you know, I know that's the saying of like um jack of all trades, master of none, but I mean we have the saying of like jack of all trades, master of none, but I mean we have the world. I mean you have your lifetime to, like, pick different things at different times and seasons and explore them. Right Doesn't mean you have to do everything at the same time. Maybe don't be as crazy as me, but, like you know, there will be seasons, there will be times where, like, it's more viable to do certain things over the other. And, you know, don't hesitate to pick up those hobbies or those things that you're interested in and make your imprint, make your unique imprint in the world that way.
Amy:Well, thank you for that advice and for sharing your passions and your interests and all the things that you're accomplishing with us, because I think we're all going to be curious to watch both Select and Stemite and anything else you do grow. Thank you very much, I appreciate my time here with you.
Amy:Voices of Leadership is part of the Bespoke Productions Hub network of independent podcasters. If you are interested in partnering with us as a sponsor or if you have a podcast of your own, please visit bespokeproductionshubcom for more information. This episode is hosted, produced and edited by me, amy Schluter.
