February 8, 2023
Stephen Robinson-Enebeli, Mechanical & Mechatronics (Nanotechnology program) Engineering Ph.D. student, was awarded the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology Momentum Fellowship valued at $30,000 per year for 4 years.
Stephen completed a BSc. degree (2015) and BEng. Degree (2018) at Saint Mary’s University and Dalhousie University, respectively; both in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He completed his MASc. degree in 2020 at the University of Waterloo where his research focuses on inferring size distributions and properties of aerosolized nickel nanoparticles using a three-colour detection system.
Introduction
Hi, my name is Stephen (pronounced Steven), and I am a PhD candidate in the Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Nano) program and part of a cotutelle PhD program between the University of Waterloo and the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. My research involves laser diagnostics of aerosolized metal nanoparticles using a technology known as time-resolved laser-induced incandescence. I particularly investigate laser and metal nanoparticle interactions to ensure we fully understand how the technology works during its application.
More about me - I love food! More so, I love experiencing food; all kinds of food the world has to offer! Luckily, I also love cooking and experimenting with new ingredients and combinations. It’s a creative venture for me whenever I have to decide what to cook with whatever ingredients I have. Not to toot my own horn, but I have come up with some masterpieces and also some abominations, unfortunately. I also love being active at the gym and weight training, it’s always a great feeling when you hit a personal record after a period of training for it.
What does it mean to you to be a Black engineer?
During my bachelor's, there were so few BIPOC individuals in my classes and much fewer in the STEM faculty, so few that I was never taught by one. I noticed the similarities during my coop terms and many STEM-related gatherings. It somewhat made me feel like STEM was not for people like me. However, whenever I met a BIPOC individual in the field, I had a newfound inspiration to keep pursuing STEM and I was always excited to keep pushing forward.
To be a black engineer to me means to show up-and-coming black engineers who may have doubts like I did that this is for them just as much as it is for any of their colleagues. You can do it! Your unique experiences will make you a unique engineer who can bring diverse ideas to the field.
How did it feel to be a recipient of the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) scholarship and how does this scholarship aid your research?
The IBET initiative itself is outstanding and I was elated when I found that its objective was to rectify the underrepresentation of BIPOC individuals in STEM-related academic positions in Canada. What a clear and direct objective! And immediate action was taken by providing tangible support for Black and Indigenous PhD students in STEM. Consequently, being a recipient of the award made me excited to be directly involved in this effort to close the representation gap in Canada.
The financial support, thus far, has directly contributed to funding the construction of a detection system that I use during some of my experiments and has also provided funds to attend conferences where I share my results with the research community.
As an Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) scholar, how will your research impact Canadians or society at large?
Nanoparticles have seen rapid growth in their application in many fields; in medicine, it has been used in target-cancer treatments, used for water treatments, and it has a variety of applications in the electronics industry. My research on laser diagnostics of nanoparticles will contribute to ensuring that nanoparticles will meet the regulations of quality as their manufacturing grows to meet the ever-increasing demand in various vital applications. This will directly contribute to Canada staying at the forefront of this growing field. As an aerosol-based diagnostic, my research will also contribute to air quality control by monitoring the presence of particulates in our air to ensure safe levels for a healthy Canada.
What other benefits do you receive as an Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Fellow besides the scholarship?
Aside from the financial support, I have benefited greatly from the mentorship program and the overall community of support that the IBET initiative has created. The mentorship program has provided me with an opportunity to consult more black engineers and doctorates who have been through experiences similar to mine. I get to learn and be a proactive individual. I also get to share my experiences with and learn from the experiences of other IBET recipients which has fostered a community of support and potential collaborations.
What will be your advice to current black students currently in STEM programs or those looking to get into STEM program?
STEM is for you just as much as it is for the next person. Don’t be discouraged if you are one of the few BIPOC individuals in STEM-related gatherings, in class, or, if you are like me, who was never taught by a black faculty member. Just by being there, you are adding to the representation and you are an inspiration to black students that follow. Cherish your experiences, they add to the diversity of your ideas and they will make you the unique STEM expert you are aspiring to be.