#AfricanAwarenessMonth – Dr Fadji Maina – A Nigerien NASA Scientist fighting water scarcity

Dr Maina has made history and given her home country exceptional pride. She is the first Nigerian to work for NASA. Her journey from the city of Zinder to NASA has shown determination, plenty of hard work and an encyclopedic knowledge of her field.

Growing up with water scarcity inspired Fadji Zaouna Maina, Ph.D., to undertake the extraordinary journey from Nigerien schoolgirl to NASA earth scientist. 

Maina was born and raised in Zinder, one of the largest cities in Niger. Growing up, she saw the hardships for families in her community who were without reliable water access. Either they had to purchase water from neighbours, or they had to send young girls out to find water. Expecting girls to find water several miles from home is so time-consuming that it’s a significant barrier to their education.

Maina says it’s no accident that girls bear this responsibility. “People think that the boys should go to school or go to work and the girls should find water and come back [to do] cooking and cleaning,” Maina says. The situation fuels her ambition to succeed. “[Girls] don’t have time to go to school. Girls’ education is one more problem that comes from climate change — I have seen that,” she says.

Unlike many girls in her community, Maina was fortunate to have water access at home, so she was able to pursue an education. 

As Maina grew more aware of the extensive consequences of poverty and climate change—especially the effects of water scarcity — she became driven to find ways to address these critical issues and help families in her community. She pursued a career in earth science by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Fes in Morocco. Then, she obtained a master’s degree in Engineering and Environmental Sciences and a Ph.D. in Hydrology from the University of Strasbourg. Afterward, Maina held postdoctoral posts in France, Italy, and California.

It all earned her a place in the prestigious Forbes 2020 ranking of the ‘30 scientists under 30 with the most ambitious research projects’. Her expertise in the field of hydrology – the science of the movement, distribution and management of water – led her to join the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, as a postdoctoral researcher in 2018.

Focusing on the catastrophic wildfires that have been devastating California, she published a highly acclaimed article in 2019 analysing the vulnerabilities caused by climate extremes. The paper brought her to the attention of NASA, and she was consequently invited in August 2020 to join the team as an earth scientist working on data from the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite project. 

She researches mathematical models that monitor the global impacts of climate change and pollution on water availability. “I have a responsibility on my shoulders because I believe I need to show the face of my country,” Maina says. “It’s like changing the image of Nigeriens and changing the image of women generally.”

Maina understands that she is one of very few Nigerien women to have reached her level of education and influence. As such, she has been an active advocate for improving women’s rights in the Sahel region to address the impact of climate change. When also asked what she would say to encourage Nigerien girls to pursue their ambitions, Maina says, “Do not give up. Keep going because everyone would think people from Niger, or a young girl from Niger, would not be able to do this. But just believe in yourself and find an environment that will support you.”

SOURCES: https://100.newafricanmagazine.com/2020/

Fadji Maina: A Nigerien NASA Scientist Fighting Water Scarcity

https://ne.usembassy.gov/hydrologist-fadji-mainas-path-from-niger-to-nasa/