From an early age, Muminah Mohammed showed a keen interest in science and engineering. Throughout her school career, she has competed in many science fairs.
“I had one where I made a nutritional supplement from food waste. I think my first project was a traffic glove that would, um, change colors based on how you moved your hand. Um, and then I also did a project on detecting radon in homes and building an affordable radon mitigation system to help, um, people that don’t have that already built in,” she recalls.
Each project not only showcased her creativity but also her desire to solve real-world problems.
“I think that’s my passion, and so I’ve been able to do pretty well at it.”
Last year, as a junior in high school, she earned a Grand Award at the International Science and Engineering Fair, and this year, she was named STEM Champion at the inaugural National STEM Challenge in D.C, for her project “Unbind the Blind” – a guide cane system designed to help the visually impaired safely evacuate house fires.
“It’s a cane and an app. So the cane has a camera that can connect to the fire department. So that way they can see what the cane sees and be able to verbally guide you. And then the application is what actually gets you in contact with the fire department.”
She also says that this project could also have everyday value.
“In the event that you also want to use it for day to day and not just emergencies, you’d be able to press the button and maybe contact your son, and he’d be able to help you find milk at the grocery store.”
This invention and this award earned her a letter of congratulations from former president Barack Obama.
“It was very cool,” she said.
And a trip to Blaine City Hall, to be honored and recognized by the city council.
“I think really it says a lot about the community that we’re in, that they take the time to recognize scientific and STEM related achievements. And I think that sort of community has really helped me grow up into a really STEM driven person,” said Mohammed.
Muminah graduated from Al-Amal School in Fridley at the beginning of June, and at the same time, she graduated college with an associate degree, because of all of the PSEO credits she’s earned. In the fall, she’ll head to the University of Minnesota to pursue biomedical engineering.
“I think you can tell biomedical engineering is kind of something I’m really passionate about. I think I want to go into medical scientist development. So I want to be able to develop new technologies and new cures for different ailments or disabilities or anything like that.”
