Beating the Odds - An inspiration for Pacific Island Girls in STEM - Dr. Yalinu Poya

Aiming to inspire and empower is exactly what Yalinu Poya had set out to do. Yalinu is an inspiration for Pacific Island Girls in STEM. Her story of success as a chemist and scientist is one that every Pacific island girl can aspire to. Yalinu Poya’s journey to Dr. Poya has been circuitous, but most of all, a very inquisitive one which has led her to develop a naval catalyst ammonia synthesis for her Ph.D. chemistry research at the University of Glasgow, in Scotland. 

Her Ph.D. research is in heterogeneous catalysis with a focus on synthesising catalysts for ammonia production using the Haber-Bosch Process.  

Ammonia synthesis is essential for the production of synthetic fertilizers, which are used in agriculture in huge quantities for food production that feeds about three billion people around the world. Ammonia is mainly manufactured via the Haber Bosch Process. Aside from its many usual elements, one of its downsides is its negative impact on the environment due to its harsh reaction conditions leading to high carbon dioxide output. 

Dr. Poya’s work focuses on making catalysts that are able to produce ammonia using small-scale renewable energy so it is more sustainable. Her ambition is to create a cleaner and safer way to produce ammonia, which is used in fertilizers, to produce the crops we rely on to meet our global food demands more sustainably. 

As a scientist, Yalinu’s concern about the impact of climate change on her home country of Papua New Guinea, the neighbouring Pacific Island nations, other vulnerable developing nations, and the planet, has given her more reason to stay the course to research a cause for food production in a more sustainable way but also address climate change. Dr. Yalinu noted that there is an urgent need for scientists like her to come up with clever solutions for human sustenance while finding a balance between an exploding world’s population versus environmental concerns. 

“As a scientist, it’s ethical to not only research a cause for food security, but also address climate change. I believe that my research can contribute towards the future of sustainable food production”.

Join Dr. Yalinu Poya as she presents her research at the Science Slam Glasgow