My budget items will help me complete my research project in the following ways: Traveling to the mine sites with personnel will make it possible to sample the water resources and soils of the mine sites and non-mine sites for the two locations. The materials and supplies such as the core samplers, white gallons, pocket thermometer, auger, mallet, GPS, marker, and bags will also be used during sampling in the field. Printing of papers for corrections will make the writing and editing of the result and discussion good. Laboratory analysis of the soils and water samples collected in the field will arm us with the true concentration of these minerals in both bodies. The personnel will assist in digging the soil profile and collecting soil and water samples. Publication of research findings will make it possible for the information to be disseminated.

Additional Information

The achievement of gender equity and elimination of the bias in academia have been a long-standing struggle. While this bias is perceived in virtually all disciplines, the impacts and stereotypes are particularly more pronounced in the field of science , technology, Engineering and mathematics (STEM). This particular experience in STEM can be traced to the the ill structure in the discipline’s participation and recognition process. This structure falsely projects STEM to be masculine and able-bodied and thus has to a great extent led to the denial of women ( significantly black women), non-binary people of colour from career advancement in STEM. A close look at the STEM workforce in Nigeria and the world in general affirms the existence of gender bias which does not reflect the population from which this workforce is drawn. While the impact of this injustice can easily be ascertained in developed nations where there is access to data and interpretation, it’s impact on developing nations is even more mind-bugling. In Nigeria for instance, the enrollment of women in STEM is generally low compared to the significant number of women that makes up the country’s population. This is a thing of notable concern because it is difficult in the present day society to address issues of national development without recourse to gender factor. The bigger fear is that this exclusion may even impact more on the future generations if not timely stemmed as women are indispensable in nation building. The cumulative impact of this long societal anomaly is already telling on the Nigerian female folks who out of fear of intimidation, rejection, and discrimination tend to shy away from STEM. The launch of championing bodies like VanguardSTEM and the Intersectional Scientific Methodology (ISM) is timely and commendable. My project, “Soil and water metrics assessment of solid minerals in mine sites and the impact on agronomic productivity in Ebonyi State, Nigeria,” will help in changing the perception and the fallacy that STEM research is an exclusive reserve for the masculine gender. First, the research which is to be run in two different mining sites (Nkalagu limestone mine and the Ameka lead mine) dominated by men will leave a positive impression on the field workers , laboratory scientists, colleagues (male and female) on the dynamic approach and the ability of women to handle research in STEM. The field work which will definitely engage the services of men and women will bring closer to them the managerial capabilities of women even in executing STEM research in difficult terrains and may motivate them to encourage their wards. This will help in bridging the gender gap in STEM studies and ultimately eliminate the bias therein. I am optimistic that this research is going to change the mentality of naysayers - those who say that women cannot carry out successful STEM research in difficult terrains like their male counterparts. Those who doubt the analytical prowess and radical judgment of women will be educated. More importantly, this research will go a long way in erasing the age-long fear in women in undertaking research in STEM and may also serve as a morale boost to my peers, friends and black women community in general who wish to pursuit a career in STEM. This research will be carried out with men and women as observers. Their experience in the sites, laboratories, computer houses will help change the narrative. My active involvement in the research and publication will help me become a better VanguardSTEM advocate and ambassador in my environment and beyond. I believe this research will help highlight the dynamism of women approach to complex tasks and the sustained tenacity in achieving set goals even in STEM. This research will encourage young girls of black origin and non-binary people of color to sustain and pursuit their dreams in STEM. Benefiting and participation in VanguardSTEM program will unarguably bring the values and dreams of VanguardSTEM and Intersectional Scientific Methodology to the knowledge of many around me and could help them strive for excellence in STEM knowing that they have a voice.