2023/2024 Competition Honorees
Huma Ameer / 2023 Honoree
Current Research: Co-occurring disfluencies in Stuttered Speech - Classification via Deep Learning
Biography: I did my undergrad in computer sciences and developed a knack for data sciences at the end of my degree. My final year project was related to the stuttering assessment system, an application that would aid in the diagnosis of stuttering. Moreover, it was funded by IGNITE and I was able to explore this area of study. During my undergrad, I worked as an android developer internee for a startup. I am currently pursuing my master's in Data Sciences, and my courses include; Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Mathematics for Data Sciences, Computer Vision, and Natural Language Processing. I am now in my research phase and have continued to work on the diagnosis of stuttering via deep learning.
How will your work assist those in underserved geographic regions?
In Pakistan, approximately 23 million people are suffering from communication disorders, and 17.6% of school children have articulation disorders. In a developing country like Pakistan, on average, either people cannot afford to take help from a therapist or they avoid going to psychologists because of the social norms. As they don’t take the required help, they tend develop other issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, stress etc.
​Ugwa Boniface / 2023 Honoree
Current Research:
Development of novel catalysts for biomass redox flow fuel cell.
Biography: I studied Chemical Engineering in Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in Nigeria and graduated with Bachelor of Engineering.
In my 4th year of undergraduate studies, I had an internship training in Life Breweries Company Limited. After graduation, I proceeded for a National Youth Service Corps scheme in Yobe State, Nigeria, specifically providing pipe-borne water to the rural community in which I served. I was also part of the team that won research grant to carry out research on development of biosynthesized nanomaterials for the removal of emerging contaminants from industrial wastewater in Nigeria from National Research Fund, I have defended my research proposal on the development of multifunctional and hybrid catalysts for direct biomass redox flow fuel cell.
How will your work assist those in underserved geographic regions?
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and 7th in the world is still very far behind in attaining clean and affordable energy sufficiency for her teeming population of about 200 million people. Average energy consumption per day in Nigeria was reported to be 0.29 kWh as against 1 kWh required. Out of this population, less than 40% has access to energy.
Chiwetalu Nenechi
Current Research:
Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Water Bodies
Biography: I studied Applied Biochemistry as an undergraduate degree and graduated 2018, I went ahead to obtain a professional certification in HSE under Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPONG) in 2020. I'm currently earning a Master's degree in Bioenergy in Federal University of Technology Owerri.
How will your work assist those in underserved geographic regions?
Underserved geographic regions are those communities that gets hit most from crude oil spillage as a major source of their income is fishing and farming. Speaking from experience the crops are affected adversely regardless of how fertile the soil previously was and aquatic lives is lost leading to low income for the fishermen and women this automatically further declines the standard of living for such communities. If help comes for such underserved communities such as remediating their water bodies without causing significant harm to aquatic lives there, the standard of living would be revived as there would be a significant growth in their economy. This method can also be employed diversely in various other undeserved community around the world boosting rural economy.
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Meet our 2024 Annual Competition Honorees
Yusuf Babatunde
Master’s Candidate, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Current Research: Assessing the delivery of HIV PrEP for Nigerian Youths Through a Co-developed Digital Platform : A mixed-methods study
Biography: I got my Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, with a particular interest in global public health. Outside my institution, I have also completed courses on implementation science and research with a focus on Infectious Diseases of Poverty from the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and at the African Regional Training Centre, University of Ghana School of Public Health. In addition, I have completed courses from the University of Washington on the Clinical Management of HIV and Leadership in Global Health. I have many awards and honors to my name, including the most recent Diana Awards 2023 for my leadership in combating antimicrobial resistance in Africa through youth leadership and community engagement. I have received travel scholarships to present my research abstracts at summits and conferences, including the International AIDS Society Conference in Brisbane, Australia and the Global Health Network Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Lastly, I have also completed an internship program at the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), where I gained first-hand experience in data analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. '
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How will your work assist those in underserved geographic regions?
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My research is highly relevant to the involvement of diverse and underserved geographic regions in Nigeria. By adopting a youth-driven, mixed-methods approach and co-developing a digital platform, I am actively engaging with adolescents from different regions, including those in remote or marginalized areas that may have limited access to essential health information and services. The platform's privacy and safety aspects ensure inclusivity and encourage participation from youths who might be hesitant to seek information through traditional means. This study would involve a large and heterogeneous sample of over 5,000 young people from diverse geographic and economic regions, designed to ensure that youth voices are driving innovations in HIV/AIDS.
Saira Kanwal
Ph.D. Candidate, National University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
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Current Research: Performance Enhancement of Microbial Fuel Cell by Using Ceramics Composite Membrane Separator for Power Production
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Biography: Saira Kanwal is a dedicated researcher with a notable portfolio of national and international
publications, showcasing her expertise in environmental sciences and engineering. Her
academic journey commenced with a focus on environmental sciences during her Master's,
where she distinguished herself by majoring in carbon sequestration through a green synthesis approach. Notably, she secured a prestigious HEC-funded project, underscoring her commitment to impactful research. Serving as a lecturer in Environmental Sciences stands as a significant achievement, reflecting her dedication to education and knowledge
dissemination. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy Systems Engineering at the U.S.-
Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE) at National University of
Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad. Saira's academic distinctions are rooted in her research excellence.
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How will your work assist those in underserved geographic regions?
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It is important to consider the specific needs of rural and underserved communities in their quest for a cost-effective and readily available solution to address their daily requirements. These communities often lack the financial resources to implement advanced technologies like perovskite solar cells, which can be expensive and difficult to maintain. My research,
centered around the use of ceramic membrane separators, aims to provide a cost-effective and
locally accessible solution for clean energy production. By treating wastewater in the cathode
chamber and employing microbial oxidation in the anode chamber, we can generate power
while simultaneously addressing sanitation needs. Additionally, the use of clayware materials
as an ionic transfer medium ensures that the project materials are within reach of the local
population. This approach is designed to empower rural communities, aligning with my
commitment to serving those in need through sustainable energy solutions.
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Uyen Nha Lam
Bachelor’s Candidate, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Canada
Current Research: Using Geospatial Technologies for sustainable development and environmental monitoring
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Biography: Uyen is a student in the Engineering Design and Drafting Technology program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and will be pursuing a degree in Information Technology. My passion for geospatial technologies started in my second year of the program when I was introduced to geographic
information systems (GIS). I’m currently doing an internship as a student research assistant in
Geospatial Technologies at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Our research includes analyzing remote
sensing data, acquired through satellites and drones, extracting land-use/land-cover (LULC)
information, and performing temporal analysis and environmental impact assessment. In many of our projects, we are working directly with First Nations communities in Canada.
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How will your work assist those in underserved geographic regions?
My research involves mapping the natural environment on First Nations reserves, such as water
bodies, grasslands, and wetlands, as well as the manmade environment. By collaborating with
First Nations communities, we are also able to identify areas of cultural and historical significance, such as hunting grounds, ceremonial areas, and areas of medicinal vegetation.
Compiling all acquired information, our final product will be open-source web-based maps, open for use by anyone in the community. This will become an efficient asset management system, helping communities to adopt digital governance. In addition, using satellite imagery, we will identify areas prone to natural disasters such as floods and landslides, which will allow communities to make sustainable future development. Finally, and most importantly, as part of
our project, we are offering training to members of First Nations communities on how to build, operate, and update an inventory system. This will help them sustain and manage this asset management system in the future.