So who I am? Life of a Black Chemist (L.O.A.B.C.)
My name is Olisa Kenneth Menakaya, also known as OK.Menakaya. I was born in Fort Worth, TX on August 20, 1987. I am a Chemist. Innovator. Educator. My project title reflects my unique experiences as an African American male who has overcome many obstacles towards reaching my goal of becoming a Chemist. The project is an extension of my mission to use innovative methods to merge chemistry with music in order to educate...
So who I am? Life of a Black Chemist (L.O.A.B.C.)
My name is Olisa Kenneth Menakaya, also known as OK.Menakaya. I was born in Fort Worth, TX on August 20, 1987. I am a Chemist. Innovator. Educator. My project title reflects my unique experiences as an African American male who has overcome many obstacles towards reaching my goal of becoming a Chemist. The project is an extension of my mission to use innovative methods to merge chemistry with music in order to educate and motivate others. The project is intended to reach audiences from different backgrounds and interest levels in science. My music presents a clear, concise, fun, and entertaining way of understanding chemistry through hip-hop, and R&B.
How are you a Chemist, OK.Menakaya?
As a Masters Chemistry graduate student at Tennessee State University (TSU), I explored the fascinating world of Chemistry including topics like heavy metal separation in fields such as general, inorganic, organic, and analytical chemistry. My academic research focuses on applied chemistry geared at finding innovative solutions for environmental applications. Currently, I am working with the Siddiquee Group at the TSU Department of Chemistry on a project involving methods of chemical precipitation using a chemical reagent, 4-aminothiophenol. In addition, I tutor students in Chemistry and give speeches to adults and youth, alike, on a variety of science topics. However, during my time at TSU, I noticed that many people who started as a STEM majors (Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), would change their majors outside of the science field. This decline in students seeking out science majors inspired me to use my voice and experience as a STEM major to help others.
How does the STEM major relate to the LOABC project?
The Life of a Black Chemist (L.O.A.B.C.) album demonstrates my passion for motivating others to learn and potentially pursue Chemistry as a career. I have used various outlets like Youtube videos, social media, and community outreach to share my experiences and knowledge about Chemistry which has been the foundation of my success. As a budding chemist, my leadership has been honored with various awards like the ACS Younger Chemist Leader Award and Undergraduate National Leadership Award. I plan to further my education by using music as a method to help me become a better chemist, educator, and leader.
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