Meet the Speakers

Adam Khan Qureshi

Editor-In-Chief at Youth STEM Matters

Adam is a third year Biochemistry Student at the University of Warwick and the Co-founder & Editor-in-Chief of Youth STEM Matters. He is keen on utilising his editorial experience to provide young scientists a voice within the scientific community. His scientific research interests lie around protein biochemistry, immunology and molecular biology.

Kerena Norris

Life Sciences Editor at Youth STEM Matters

Kerena is passionate about making STEM accessible to all and promoting young scientists through her editorial role with Youth STEM Matters. She has interests in the immunology, oncology, and biochemistry fields. Kerena has previous research experience in functionally and phenotypically characterising a transgenic mouse line and separately localising asparagine synthetase cellular expression within healthy and epileptic mouse tissue.

Victórya Leal

Young Scientist and High School Student

Victórya is a High School student and passion-driven young scientist in Social Sciences. She sees in science an opportunity to change her reality and country. Victórya loves doing different projects: MUNs, Glee Club, Leaderships Bootcamps and STEM Club. She sees scientific dissemination as an important tool to democratize science. Therefore, Victórya spreads her project through science fairs.

Mujjona Eric

Software Developer

Mujjona Eric is a self taught programmer proficient in C and Python. He is an enthusiast of IoT, machine learning and cloud computing who taught himself how to code at 14 using a school computer and quickly started experimenting with micro-controllers and circuits.

Joel Steven Ssekyewa

Embedded Systems Developer and Maker

Joel Steven is a teenage self taught programmer and embedded systems developer and robotics enthusiast he attended Makerere College School for both his middle and high school and was the president of the science and robotics club. Joel loved technology from a young age that he made his first robot at 9 years old and wrote first program when he was 13. He is currently researching about large scale 3D printing.

Prof. Salome Maswime

Head of Global Surgery, University of Cape Town

Salome Maswime is the Head of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town, a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, a Next Einstein Fellow and President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society. She is an obstetrician and gynaecologist and a multi-award winning Scientist.

Aditi Kona

Neuroscience Enthusiast and High School Student Researcher

Aditi is a rising senior with a deep interest in biomedical research regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind neurological diseases. Additionally, she is highly passionate about improving the quality of healthcare and reducing the cost of care for patients. To that end, she hopes to pursue a specialty in the medical field before ultimately working in hospital administration.

Olayemi Bakare

Life Sciences Reviewer at Youth STEM Matters

Olayemi Bakare is a graduate of microbiology from Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria. He is passionate about research in the areas of plant-microbe interaction, microbial ecology, and environmental microbiology. He has authored science communication articles in Youth STEM Matters, where he currently volunteers as a Life Sciences Reviewer.

Shalini Sellam

Aspiring Researcher and Sixth Former

Shalini aspires to use innovation across the sciences, from quantum computing to genetics, to change the world. Both science and writing are great passions of hers. She firmly believes in taking risks and speaking out, and wants to centre young people in science, like everyone in Youth STEM, to tackle major global issues with an ambitious and creative drive.

Zuzana Hudáčová

Biologist and Incoming Freshman at Stanford

Zuzana is a Slovak student and an incoming freshman at Stanford University with a tireless passion for Biology, especially Neuroscience. She has been interning in laboratories since 14 and participated in the research of neurodifferentiation and COVID-19 diagnostics development. She loves learning and discovery more than anything else, which is why she aims to dedicate her life to science.

Anne-Rosa Bilal

Research Conference Organiser & Life Sciences Managing Editor

With experience researching since early childhood, Anne-Rosa aspires to pursue the study of neurology as her main interest. Helping as many people as possible is her life goal - which is why Youth STEM Matters is such an important part of her life: it has opened a door for her to help young people be at the forefront of scientific development.

Miriam Turk

Youth STEM Researcher, Scientist, 3D Print and CAD Designer

Miriam Turk is an Inventor, Scientist and Maker from Manitoba, Canada. This 9 year old STEM enthusiast enjoys coding animation, games and engineering projects with Ardunio robots. She also prototypes CAD designs and 3D prints models. On her free time, she is an avid reader, plays the piano, guitar, rock climbs and shoots archery. As a homeschool student, she has studied in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Ruth Turk

Youth STEM Researcher, Scientist, 3D Print and CAD Designer

Ruth Turk is an Inventor, Scientist and Maker from Manitoba, Canada. This 9 year old STEM enthusiast enjoys engineering projects with Lego Mindstorm robots, and creating stop-go animations. She also prototypes CAD designs and 3D prints models. On her free time, she is an avid reader, plays the piano and the guitar, rock climbs, swims and wrestles. As a homeschool student, she has studied in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Siva Sainath Reddy Bandi

High School Student and Young Researcher

Siva is a high school student at Silver Oaks International School from India. He is a STEM enthusiast, avid reader and a young researcher. His main interests are science, tech, computer science and business. Trekking, cycling and video games are some of his hobbies. He loves to take part in STEM based activities and hackathons.

Lucy Mbochi

Forensics Enthusiast and Chemistry Undergraduate

Lucy is a third-year Chemistry student who loves to binge-watch true crime documentaries and forensic specials. She loves all things Chemistry; especially inorganic and analytical chemistry. In the unlikely event that she's not at church, studying, or watching TV; she can be found cooking, reading, or hanging out with friends and family. Lucy is a Physical Sciences Editor at Youth STEM Matters.

Connie Siu Man Hei

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate and Internet Governance Enthusiast

Connie Siu M.H. is a 19-year-old Portuguese/Hongkonger, majoring in biomedical engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is passionate about STEM, youth, and volunteering, and is active in the Internet Governance field with organising initiatives and UN IGF workshops. She hopes to create various sustainable opportunities for youths through research, innovation, and volunteering in STEM and Internet Governance.

Mhairi McCann

Founder & CEO of Youth STEM 2030

Mhairi is Youth STEM 2030’s Founder & CEO. Based in Inverclyde, Scotland, she has a strong belief in the positive difference young people can make to our world through STEM. Mhairi was named one of the UK’s Top 50 Women in Sustainability in 2020 and is currently part of the Steering Group of SDG Network Scotland. When she’s not creating STEM opportunities for young people, she can usually be found volunteering.⁠

Ayomide Oshinjo

Biomedical Scientist

Ayomide works at the intersection of biomedical research, healthcare and technology. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Physiology from Bowen University, Nigeria, graduating in the top 1% of his class. He has spearheaded multiple science education and communication activities that have reached hundreds of students and science educators across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Rishika Podarala

Research Enthusiast and Microbiology Undergraduate

Rishika is an undergraduate student majoring in microbiology and cell sciences, with an avid interest in biological and genetics research. Rishika has published research about COVID-19 and won regional and state science fair awards on plastic degradation research. She engage in community service as a member of the Indian Red Cross, and is bioscience MVP, pharmacy technician certified, and bilingual. Rishika enjoys hobbies of swimming, Indian classical dance, and traveling! ⁠

Pratyusha Mandal

High School Student

Pratyusha Mandal is 14 years old, and from Washington DC, USA. She is interested in genetics, and recently the chemistry, fields of Science. She enjoys doing ballet, reading books, and running! Pratyusha is a Science Communication Editor at Youth STEM Matters.

Zainab Khan

STEM Enthusiast and High School Student

Zainab is a high-school sophomore in Ontario, Canada. She is interested in Artificial Intelligence and Medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading mystery novels, and doing photography. She is passionate about youth creating positive change through STEM, and is a Science Communication Editor at Youth STEM Matters.

Prof. Andrew B. Ward

Structural Biologist interested in vaccine design

Andrew Ward, Ph.D. is a Professor at Scripps Research in San Diego, CA USA. He leads a diverse group of scientists that use cryoEM and computational approaches to unlock the molecular details underlying antibody mediated neutralization of viruses and pathogens. These atomic level observations enable design of improved vaccines against HIV, influenza, Coronaviruses, Ebola, malaria, and other pathogens.

Mhairi McCann

Youth STEM 2030 Founder & CEO

Adam Khan-Qureshi

Editor-In-Chief at Youth STEM Matters