Draft:Science in Yoruba

Science in Yoruba is a non-profit organization with a team of linguists and science experts who are propagating STEM knowledge in Yoruba language.

History

The Science in Yoruba project was founded in 2017 by Taofeeq Adebayo through a funding from the Andrew Mellon Graduate Fellowship in Community-Engaged Scholarship at Tulane University. Taofeeq Adebayo, then a PhD student of linguistics at Tulane University, collaborated with a team of graduate students of the University of Ibadan specializing in linguistics and STEM fields to translate a Basic science textbook into Yoruba language. After completing the translation of the textbook in 2019, the team went on to teach the translation to 237 seventh graders from three secondary schools in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The organization is now creating illustrative visuals (videos and pictures) which are made available on Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms to provide accesss to STEM knowledge for the Yoruba public.

Project aim

The goals of Science in Yoruba are to foster the propagation of scientific and technological knowledge and discourse in Yoruba language. They have three goals:

1. To facilitate a Yoruba culture where Yoruba people discuss science in Yoruba and knowledge of science is accessible not only to Yoruba people who have Western education but also to those who do not have this kind of education.
2. To translate all science textbooks used at secondary schools in Nigeria to Yoruba.
3. Teach this translation to students at schools with the aim of improving their understanding.

Project success and findings

• Translation of Basic Science 1 for JSS1 students sponsored by the Mellon Graduate Fellowship in Community-Engaged Scholarship, Tulane University (2017–2019).
• In February 2020, the Science in Yoruba team trained teachers in schools in Ibadan on how to use demonstration materials in their classrooms.
• As of 2024, Science in Yoruba has an online archive of general STEM Knowledge where you can find many explainer articles on all aspect of STEM.
• Large audience have access to the visual content created by Science in Yoruba and made accessible on social media platform (The Facebook page has over 229,000 followers).

Personell

A select group of professionals make up the members and executives that oversee the affairs of the organization.

Founder/Director

• Taofeeq Adebayo, PhD. Assistant Professor of Linguistics, California State University, San Bernardino

The inaugural team members are:

1. Babatola Oyetayo
2. Eriife Mofoluwawo
3. Samuel Jegede
4. Samuel Awelewa

The current Collaborators are:

1. Raji Lateef, Lecturer, Department of General Studies (Yoruba Unit), Lagos State University of Science and Technology
2. Bode Ọjẹ, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan
3. Eriifeoluwa Mofoluwawo, MSc, Chemistry, University of Ibadan
4. Jegede Samuel, M.Sc., Microbiology, University of Ibadan
5. Awelewa Samuel Ayodele, Ph.D. student in Physics, Kent State University
6. Olugbenga Olabiyi, Ph.D. student in Physics, University of Utah
7. Lateef Adeleke, PhD student in Linguistics, University of Rochester
8. Alabi Sheriff
9. Afuye Olubayode
10. Tawakalitu Badmus
11. Babatunde Popoola
12. Adéníran AbdBasit Adéyẹmí

= External links

• scienceinyoruba.org