Dabiri-Erewa Lauds John Dabiri Appointment Into US Advisory Council

NiDCOM Boss, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

She advised the scholar not to rest on his laurels, and also prayed for his success in the new assignment.

Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has hailed the appointment of Professor John Dabiri, a Nigerian-American scholar into the US advisory council on science and technology by US President Joe Biden.

This was contained in a congratulatory message signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun,
Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM in Abuja on Saturday, 25th September, 2021.

Dabiri-Erewa, who described John Dabiri’s latest accomplishment as a source of encouragement to young Nigerians around the world, said this is a testimony to the intellectual prowess of Nigerians in the diaspora who are industry leaders in different spheres of human endeavour

She advised the scholar not to rest on his laurels, and also prayed for his success in the new assignment.

John Oluseun Dabiri, currently a Professor of aeronautics and mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), was “born to Nigerian immigrant parents in 1980.”

He is an Engineer who “designs next-generation wind turbines with the potential to reduce cost, size, and environmental impacts while maximising the amount of electricity generated”.

He has also been awarded “the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and the Alan T. Waterman Award from the National Science Foundation”.

Dabiri was appointed alongside 29 other persons, and the council is expected to provide recommendations on policies to encourage innovations in science and technology in the US.

According to Caltech, Dabiri, who is the youngest member of the council, said he is honoured to have been selected. He added that he will work with other members of the council to ensure that the US benefits from the enduring opportunities available in world of science and technology.

“The members of PCAST bring a diverse set of perspectives on how we can maximize the benefits of science and technology for the nation. I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with them and to be able to offer my assistance to the president,” Dabiri is quoted as saying.

Dabiri’s parents are Nigerian immigrants, who settled in Toledo, Ohio, in 1975.

His mother, a computer scientist, raised three children and started a software development company.

John’s love for Engineering is credited to his father, who occasionally did engineering work on the sidelines.

He is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

From 2015 to 2019, he served as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, where he was recognized with the Eugene L. Grant Award for Excellence in Teaching, and headed the Dabiri Lab, which conducts research at the intersections of fluid mechanics, energy and environment, and biology.

From 2005 to 2015, he was a Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology, during which time he also served as Director of the Center for Bioi inspired Wind Energy, Chair of the Faculty, and Dean of Students.

FURTHER READING:

Dabiri is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, where he was also elected to the Chair line of the Division of Fluid Dynamics.

John Dabiri

He serves on the National Academies’ Committee on Science, Technology, and Law. He is also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.

Ronny Ikpoto

Edidiong-Ronny Ikpoto holds a First Class degree in Media Studies. He shares a healthy enthusiasm for journalism, social & literary criticism, and creative writing.