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Planning for the University of Guam (UOG) Island Wisdom Mini Regatta began in August 2025, in pwo navigator Larry Raigetal's office at the UOG Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC). We had come to him looking for a STEM Ambassadors Program (STEMAP) project idea grounded in reciprocity with the community. What he shared was bigger than we expected: a long-held vision for a Micronesia-wide voyaging cup, starting from Guåhan and sailing to Saipan and back, rooted in the living tradition of Pacific and Micronesian wayfinding. The Mini Regatta, he explained, could be a first step toward that.

Most STEM career events focus on pathways. Students learn about majors, internships, scholarships, graduate school, and job opportunities. Speakers often present the polished version of success: the degrees they earned, the positions they hold, and the milestones they achieved. That information is valuable, but it rarely provides the full picture. Students hear about the opportunities STEM can offer, but less often about the realities that accompany them. What does it feel like to be the only person who looks like you in the room?

As a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah, my research focuses on soil health, biosolids land application, and the safe reuse of treated wastewater byproducts as resources in agricultural systems. Through the STEM Ambassador Program, I had the opportunity to share this work with students in the Promise South Salt Lake after-school program at Granite Park Junior High. My goal was to make environmental engineering feel understandable, relevant, and exciting for junior high school students by showing how something many people think of as “waste” can become a valuable resource for soil and plants.

Hailing from Nigeria and having pursued my education in Ghana before moving to the United States, I have spent most of my life navigating the world as an international student. As a first-generation doctoral graduate, I understand deeply the importance of building community and creating connections, especially in spaces where cultural, financial, and institutional barriers can make academic life feel isolating. My journey has included challenges, from navigating immigration and funding to adjusting to cultural differences, all while trying to find my place in science and higher education.

Teaching climate science to teenagers at the Windmill Library was one of the most energizing outreach experiences I’ve had. My focal group consisted of high school students who were interested in learning about climate change at the library, and the venue offered an open, welcoming environment that encouraged engagement. I wanted to design a program that didn’t just explain climate change but helped young adults to see the connections between atmospheric science, human behavior, and their lived experience.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans' trust in science has declined 16 percentage points — from 73% to 57% people reporting a positive view of science's societal impact, according to the Pew Research Center. This erosion has had real consequences, including significant research funding cuts in 2025. When the public better understands why scientists conduct research and how it benefits daily life, they are more likely to support that investment. Bridging this gap is the foundation of the High School Science Communication Workshop, developed by the UNLV Radiochemistry Program.

As part of my participation in the STEM Ambassador Program, I had the opportunity to design and implement the educational workshop “Biologists for a Day” for elementary students at Dr. Julio J. Henna School. The activity was originally planned for preschool students and focused on explaining the process of decomposition through a science story. However, I was given the opportunity to adapt the activity for older students, which became a positive challenge and a valuable learning experience.

I did not expect cricket practice to become a place where I would talk about flood mapping. But somewhere between players setting up cones and adjusting field positions, I began to see how naturally the conversation could shift from sport to science.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a seminar given by Dr. Nalini Nadkarni, Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Utah. She spoke about her career-long mission to weave a tapestry grounded in ecology—one that tells stories of disturbance and recovery while crossing disciplines and communities. Part of this work culminated in the launch of the STEM Community Alliance Program (STEMCAP), which brings STEM programming to youth in custody and connects them with scientists, artists, and community educators. As a newly designated STEM Ambassador collaborating with STEMCAP, I was scheduled to present my research on plant–bacteria interactions to students at the Slate Canyon Youth Center (SCYC) just two days after her talk. These students are justice-impacted youth (aged ~14-20) participating in an educational program designed to provide structure, support, and opportunities for growth during custody. Feeling a little starstruck, I asked Dr. Nadkarni if she had any last-minute advice. Her response was simple: humanize yourself. Show them that you are a person as well as a scientist.

My STEM Ambassador project is taking place in the Corredor Ecológico del Noreste (CEN) Reserve in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, a protected coastal ecosystem co-managed by the community-based organization Coalición para la Protección del CEN and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA). The Coalition, established in 2005, plays a key role in conservation, education, and community engagement. I have collaborated with this group in the past and continue to work with them through my postdoctoral research within the Reserve. This ongoing relationship has allowed me to observe their essential work in protecting the area and educating visitors. The Reserve receives both local and international tourists, yet it lacks interpretive guides or materials that help visitors understand and appreciate what they are experiencing.