The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science is committed to celebrating the people who strengthen our community through exceptional educational leadership and outreach. This year’s Faculty of Science Community Award recipients are making a lasting impact on campus and beyond, and we are proud to recognize their achievements and contributions.
Dr. Ifeoma Adaji
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in supporting and promoting EDI from an intersectional social justice lens.
Dr. Adaji has shown sustained and impactful leadership in supporting Black students, staff and faculty at UBCO. As a member of the UBC wide Black Faculty Network, she helped advocate for, organize and speak at the Black Students, Staff & Faculty Networking Event, creating a space for connection. Her engagement has led students to seek her out for mentorship, research opportunities and career guidance. In Computer Science, Ifeoma has helped increase the representation of Black graduate students through targeted outreach and mentorship, including recruitment of the program’s first Black graduate student. Her EDI contributions extend beyond this work: Ifeoma supports fair and holistic evaluation through hiring, scholarship and awards committees; mentors underrepresented students; participates in the NSERC USRA Black Student Researchers session, and UBC Welcomes You; and teaches programming monthly to women of colour seeking tech careers. Ifeoma’s work is sustained, practical and transformative.
Dr. Emmanuel Osei
Assistant Professor, Biology
Faculty and Staff Outreach Award
This award recognizes individuals who are making substantial, diverse, and sustained contributions to community outreach.
Emmanuel exemplifies the Faculty of Science’s commitment to public engagement. Through BREATHE-OK, a regional biobank initiative, he has built active community partnerships with Interior Health and the Kelowna Fire Department, embedding public engagement directly into his research program. His outreach is focused on urgent local issues, namely wildfire smoke and respiratory health in Interior BC, and he communicates science with clarity and genuine accessibility; as one example, Emmanuel partnered with Giant Microbes to produce a public science video on lung biology. On campus, Emmanuel regularly hosts high school students in his lab, and he mentors minority students.
Avery Aardema
4th-year Honours Biology
Outreach Award for Undergraduate Students
This award recognizes individuals who are making substantial, diverse and sustained contributions to community outreach.
Avery was part of a team who founded the Bridge Mentorship Program at UBCO and SD23, a program that has connected over 100 high school students with university student mentors, fostering academic confidence, social connection and successful transitions to post-secondary education. Avery also leads outreach through the Palliative Care Club, and volunteers with pediatric patients at Kelowna General Hospital. As President of the Biological Sciences Course Union, she has advocated for peer support initiatives, and stronger student-faculty engagement.
Dr. Craig Nichol
Associate Professor of Teaching, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Educational Leadership Award
This award recognizes excellence in educational leadership in the Faculty.
Craig has demonstrated sustained educational leadership in strengthening the Earth and Environmental Sciences student experience at UBC and beyond. Craig developed a comprehensive advising ecosystem connecting students with peers, alumni, employers, co-op opportunities and professional paths. Nationally, his leadership on geoscience licensure and advisor networks reshaped advising across Canada and influenced professional societies in the U.S. Through professional leadership, mentorship, and community engagement, Craig has built key connections between education, profession and society.
Dr. Ken Savage
Lecturer, Biology
Teaching Excellence and Innovation Award
This award recognizes faculty who achieve high standards in student learning and implement effective teaching and assessment methods in their classes.
Ken constantly develops new courses, new ways of teaching and new ways to connect students to experiential learning opportunities. An ALT 2040 grant allowed Ken to create a complementary learning experience for his BIOL 204 (Vertebrate Structure and Function) class. Using UBCO’s Constellation tools, he created 3D models of three skulls, and then provided an immersive experience for his students in the Visualization and Emerging Media Studio (VEMS).