By Society Member Olamide Adebiyi
Olamide Adebiyi is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a PhD from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and completed postdoctoral training at Cornell University, USA, and at Western University, Canada. Her lab focuses on understanding how heavy metals contribute to behavioural impairments and neurological disorders.
Member Olamide Adebiyi was a 2025 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Fund recipient. We followed up with Olamide to find out more about her project and the outcomes.
Please tell us about your project
Our science outreach was tagged “Leave no one behind: Ensuring Inclusivity in Science for Indigenous High School Students in Saskatoon. We held a Science Day in the school to shed light on career paths in STEM and encourage students from these indigenous communities to explore exciting career options. The event featured a lecture on the physiology of the brain, an interactive workshop on careers in neuroscience, and hands-on activities.
What were the outcomes/impact of your project? If still ongoing, what will these be?
Data from our pre- and post-program surveys demonstrated a measurable increase in students’ knowledge of brain physiology and neurological disorders, as well as a heightened interest in pursuing careers in neuroscience. Participants also strongly recommended that we continue offering similar outreach initiatives in the future. Notably, several students expressed interest in further engagement by signing up for a laboratory visit and were added to our culturally responsive mentee program. Overall, the outreach was mutually beneficial: it engaged participants while providing our undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to improve their communication skills by presenting their research in a lay-friendly manner to high school students. Many of these student volunteers will continue to serve as mentors to the participants.
Do you have any plans to continue this work? If so, how?
I have plans to continue this work and continue to host these curious high school students in my lab. My motivation is based on my personal philosophy of “catching them young”, that is, sparking early interest in science among students from underrepresented backgrounds. I will continue to apply for similar EDI funds to support future initiatives.
How did receiving the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Fund grant support you in this work?
The EDI fund supported the materials and supplies, snacks and refreshment and the Science-themed gifts for the students. It supported our talk and practical demonstrations at Oskāyak High School, an Indigenous High School in Saskatoon.
What did you learn from undertaking this project?
As part of our culturally responsive approach, some participants shared Indigenous knowledge regarding the use of plants in treating neurological disorders. This led to a rich discussion on Indigenous medicine, as well as how certain illicit drugs can negatively affect brain function.
Do you have any advice or recommendations for potential future applicants?
Identify the equity gap to be addressed, read the application instructions, and apply.