PNG academic continues to shine in US
Dr Poya Gow in Boston.
A PAPAUA New Guinean Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Wentworth Institute of Technology in the United States, Dr Yalinu Poya Gow has expressed delight over being recognised for the second time to present her work at the Museum of Science in Boston.
Dr Yalinu, a Member of Global Young Academy 2024-2029 and Member of Scientific Advisory Board AEHS Foundation (East Coast USA), said she was honoured to be invited by the Museum of Science, Boston, to present her work as part of their “Meet a Scientist” programme during the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
“I am also especially grateful that this is the second year the Museum of Science has invited me to speak.“I gave a 30-minute presentation titled: “What is Beneath Our Feet? Exploring Pollution and Smart Solutions for Cleaning Up Boston’s Brownfield Sites”.“As a Chemistry Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology, my work focuses on applying chemistry to real-world environmental challenges, especially in understanding pollution and developing sustainable cleanup solutions for affected communities.“This experience was especially meaningful to me,” Dr Yalinu said.She said she remembered in 1997, as a child in Papua New Guinea, her father told her that he would be leaving for Boston to attend Harvard University.
“He had been selected as the first Pacific Islander to enter an executive business management programme. At the time, I did not fully understand the significance; I had only heard of cities like New York and Los Angeles (from movies that I watched), and that was the first time I ever heard of a city named Boston.“Years later, life has come full circle. I now live and work in Boston as a chemistry professor, contributing to research and education in the very city that once felt so distant,” she said.Dr Yalinu said thanked her father for planting seeds and reminding her that no dream was too hard to achieve.“This moment was not just about sharing science, it was also about perseverance and honoring the people who believed in us along the way.“A special thank you to my husband for his support and for capturing these moments from the audience.“Grateful for this experience and the opportunity to show how science can positively change communities,” she said.
Story by Sam Vulum
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