MEEA's own Amara Ifeji acheives global recognition

Our very own Amara Ifeji was recognized as a global leader under 30 by the NAAEE’s 30 Under 30 Program. Her work at Bangor High School (BHS) secured her a spot as one of 6 individuals in the U.S. to receive the award this year. She will join a growing class of young leaders using environmental education to build sustainable and equitable communities around the world. The program recognizes social entrepreneurs, artists, researchers, and educators from 14 countries. 

Last week we got to catch up with Amara about this great opportunity. 

When asked about the nature of the project Amara explained,

“The Stormwater Management and Research Team and its resulting summer institute was a citizen science initiative, but growing up I never considered myself a science person and didn’t have any particular experience with environmental science.” 

She continued, 

“But, after learning about and understanding the threats that the local watershed, the Penobscot Watershed, faced as a result of climate change, ocean acidification, and nutrient pollution, I felt motivated to become involved.”

She emphasized that this project was about more than just the science, that it was also about providing an opportunity to people who aren’t usually involved in STEM-based initiatives. She noted that this fueled her, helping her create a space to diversify the way that scientists are represented by providing female-identifying, BIPOC, and socioeconomically marginalized individuals the skills to get invested.

The first iteration of the summer institute, which was originally organized by a teacher at BHS, ran when Amara was a freshman. The second iteration followed during her sophomore year, and both were funded by the National Science Foundation. Unfortunately this funding ran out when it came time to plan the summer institute during Amara’s junior year. This prompted Amara to reach out to the Onion Foundation,a local foundation that supports non-profits throughout Maine. The foundation provided Amara with the funds to plan and run a mini-institute during that summer which took over 3-months to plan and culminated in a 4-day program

Amara related that one of the special things about this program was that it coincided with the summer school sessions being run at the school, so she got to partner with the students participating in summer school. 

She shared that

“Many of these students weren’t interested in science before, but because of the style of learning provided by the summer institute, many became interested, even going as far as to register for science classes in the following fall.” 

The institute was so successful that students continued sampling the water after the program ended. The results from this study allowed the students to compete in the Maine State Science Fair in the following March, from which they won awards! 

Amara elaborated that the most rewarding part of this process was seeing people get excited about and become invested in science, especially people that wouldn’t have the opportunity or interest before. She added that 

“Equity is at the center of everything I do as a black woman, so providing this space was heartwarming.”

Learn more about the award and Amara’s work here