Fortune Adekanye
Grade: Third year of university
Province or Territory: Alberta
Organization/program: Canadian Black Scientists Network
What does being part of this organization or program mean to you?
Being part of the CBSN means that I have a community behind me that cares for my success, with individuals willing to direct me to the resources and support systems, and provide direction to get there. It means having a community that you can rely on and feel comfortable with. The mentorship aspect is a significant part for me as I can grow alongside individuals who are well-established in the field, learn from them, and gain valuable insights regarding Black excellence.
What part of attending the 2026 Youth Summit and Expo are you most excited about?
I am very much looking forward to connecting with peers, experts in the field, and Black leaders with a similar vision of demonstrating innovation and diversity within STEM. I am looking forward to having great conversations with ambitious and goal-oriented individuals who love to push the boundaries of progress and growth. Additionally, I am quite excited to get hands-on experience via the variety of workshops and professional development courses. I look forward to being emboldened through the process to attain the skills necessary to move into my field with confidence and a willingness to have a positive impact in whichever capacity possible.
What excites you about STEM?
I believe the best thing about STEM is that it becomes all the more interesting when you invest in it. Past the rudimentary fundamentals, especially for me, science became all the more interesting as I could see the real-world applicability of its concepts. I am currently studying molecular biology, and I think the most fascinating thing about it is that the field becomes more application-based than rote memorization; as such, the dots begin to connect. When concepts are learned, the first question is usually, how am I going to apply this in a particular setting? And that is where the excitement lies. I believe this extends to the other aspects of STEM, as being able to create those connections in real-time makes the field more of an ongoing puzzle piece where you may not have all the pieces in one location. However, the excitement of solving the puzzle is always rewarding!
Fun fact about me:
When I am not in my molecular biology lab, I love being creative, so I do anything from sketching realistic portraits to baking chocolate chip banana muffins! So it is very possible to catch me with a serological pipette in my hand one morning, and a couple of hours later, it will be switched out with an icing bag to produce delicious strawberry cupcakes.
Fortune Adekanye
Canadian Black Scientists Network
What does being part of this organization or program mean to you?
Being part of the CBSN means that I have a community behind me that cares for my success, with individuals willing to direct me to the resources and support systems, and provide direction to get there. It means having a community that you can rely on and feel comfortable with. The mentorship aspect is a significant part for me as I can grow alongside individuals who are well-established in the field, learn from them, and gain valuable insights regarding Black excellence.
What part of attending the 2026 Youth Summit and Expo are you most excited about?
I am very much looking forward to connecting with peers, experts in the field, and Black leaders with a similar vision of demonstrating innovation and diversity within STEM. I am looking forward to having great conversations with ambitious and goal-oriented individuals who love to push the boundaries of progress and growth. Additionally, I am quite excited to get hands-on experience via the variety of workshops and professional development courses. I look forward to being emboldened through the process to attain the skills necessary to move into my field with confidence and a willingness to have a positive impact in whichever capacity possible.
What excites you about STEM?
I believe the best thing about STEM is that it becomes all the more interesting when you invest in it. Past the rudimentary fundamentals, especially for me, science became all the more interesting as I could see the real-world applicability of its concepts. I am currently studying molecular biology, and I think the most fascinating thing about it is that the field becomes more application-based than rote memorization; as such, the dots begin to connect. When concepts are learned, the first question is usually, how am I going to apply this in a particular setting? And that is where the excitement lies. I believe this extends to the other aspects of STEM, as being able to create those connections in real-time makes the field more of an ongoing puzzle piece where you may not have all the pieces in one location. However, the excitement of solving the puzzle is always rewarding!
Fun fact about me:
When I am not in my molecular biology lab, I love being creative, so I do anything from sketching realistic portraits to baking chocolate chip banana muffins! So it is very possible to catch me with a serological pipette in my hand one morning, and a couple of hours later, it will be switched out with an icing bag to produce delicious strawberry cupcakes.
