District 3 Awards 2023 Zonta International STEM Scholarship to Adebimpe Rasak-Usman

 

Adebimpe Rasak-Usman

Zonta District 3 awarded a $5,000 STEM scholarship to Adebimpe Rasak-Usman. She is one of 30 recipients worldwide to win a 2023 Women in STEM Scholarship, established by Zonta International to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in science, technology, engineering and math.

Originally from Nigeria, Rasak-Usman is a graduate student at American University in Washington, D.C., working toward a Master of Science in Environmental Science. She is passionate about addressing global environmental issues, uncovering patterns of environmental inequity, and advocating for inclusive solutions that promote both ecological health and social fairness using data analysis and visualization.

Rasak-Usman spent the summer of 2023 working as a research assistant, analyzing air pollution variability in D.C.’s urban neighborhoods. She also served as an air-quality consultant with Empower DC, a non-profit focused on fighting for environmental justice. There, she developed workshops and training sessions to teach D.C. residents how to interpret air pollution data.

Rasak-Usman installs an air quality monitor

After graduation, Rasak-Usman wants to use her education in data processing and visualization to solve environmental problems. She dreams of founding her own woman-led firm, where she hopes to mentor women with shared interests.

“Gender diversity in STEM fields remains a challenge,” she commented. “Support from this scholarship allows me to focus more on my studies, research, and projects aimed at addressing environmental issues."

With the Zonta scholarship, Rasak-Usman attended the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, in December 2023. There, she presented her work in the session on "Engaging Learners in Air Quality Studies Using Small Sensors."

Rasak-Usman’s application to the Zonta International Women in STEM scholarship was sponsored by District 3's Zonta Club of New Rochelle. Peconic Bay Zonta members Kathy Walker and Mona Rowe served as District 3's STEM Scholarship committee co-chairs, coordinating the district-wide application process during the 2022-24 Zonta biennial.

To learn more about Zonta’s Women in STEM scholarship and see the complete list of winners for 2023, click here.