Interview With Aidan Ahmed

Aidan Ahmed

Founder of Kid’s Kitchen and Bioengineering Youth-led Technology Education (BYTE)

Q: Could you share your name, pronouns, and how you engage with science and learning?

A: My name is Aidan Ahmed and my pronouns are he/him. I’m currently a junior at Leland High School, and I’m especially interested in bioengineering because it combines biology and physics to solve real-world problems.

My interest in science was inspired by my grandfather, who worked as a water and irrigation engineer with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. He used science and engineering to help bring water to farms that previously didn’t have access to irrigation. Hearing those stories made me realize how powerful science can be in improving people’s lives.

That inspiration led me to co-found two youth-led initiatives. One is Kids Kitchen, which focuses on addressing food insecurity. The other is BYTE—Bioengineering Youth-Led Technology Education—which I founded to expand access to bioengineering and STEM education for students who might not otherwise have those opportunities.

Through BYTE, we collaborate with students and volunteers to create educational videos about science and biotechnology. Last year we partnered with a rural high school in Bangladesh and shared videos designed specifically for their learning environment.

I also conduct research through the Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP), where we explore biotechnology solutions to global challenges, and I’m currently doing research with Cambridge University on how artificial intelligence can improve translation for educational materials. My goal is to use AI translation to make our science videos accessible to more students in different languages.

Q: What is your connection to The Lawrence Hall of Science?

A: My connection to the Lawrence Hall of Science comes through Kids Kitchen, the youth organization I co-founded. Kids Kitchen is featured as a partner in The Lawrence’s Future of Food exhibition.

Our program focuses on addressing food insecurity and promoting equitable access to healthy food, and we’re included in the exhibit’s “Ingredients of Change” panel as an example of youth-led initiatives working to solve real-world food challenges.

It’s been really exciting to see youth voices included in that exhibit and to be part of a community that’s thinking about how science and innovation can improve food systems.

Q: What relationships, collaborations, or community practices make your work possible?

A: Collaboration is at the center of everything we do in BYTE.

The educational videos we create are developed by teams of students and volunteers from different communities. We work together to design lessons, record content, and adapt the material so it’s relevant to the students we’re trying to reach.

We also collaborate directly with the schools we partner with, like the rural high school in Bangladesh. The students and teachers there provide feedback that helps us improve the videos and tailor the content to their needs.

For example, one of the challenges they identified was language barriers, which inspired my research into using artificial intelligence for translation. Their feedback directly shapes how we design future educational resources.

Without that collaboration—between students, educators, and communities around the world—our work simply wouldn’t be possible.

Q: How does your work make science more engaging, accessible, or inclusive?

A: One of the ways we make science engaging is by having teenagers create educational videos for other teenagers. We believe that when students see people their own age explaining science concepts, it feels more relatable and personal.

We also use visual diagrams and real-world examples to explain scientific ideas. For instance, in one video about bacteria and fermentation, we used an example related to traditional food practices in Bangladesh—like soaking rice overnight to preserve it through fermentation. By connecting science to everyday experiences, the concepts become easier to understand.

Accessibility is really the core goal of our work. Many students in rural or under-resourced communities don’t have access to advanced STEM education. Our videos aim to bridge that gap by bringing science lessons directly to those students.

Q: What advice would you give young people who feel like science isn’t for them?

A: I actually used to feel that way myself at one point. But over time I realized that science is really about curiosity.

Science isn’t about being naturally brilliant—it’s about asking questions about how the world works and trying to find answers. If you’re curious about the universe, about nature, or about how things function, then you already have the mindset of a scientist.

Science also has enormous potential to improve society. From medicine to technology to environmental solutions, science has helped save and improve countless lives.

So my advice is that if you’re curious about the world and want to make a difference, science might be the perfect path for you.

Q: What do you think the world would look like if everyone felt welcome in science?

A: If everyone felt welcome in science, we would have a much wider range of perspectives working on global problems.

Many challenges—like water scarcity or food insecurity—disproportionately affect communities that historically have had less access to scientific education and resources. If people from those communities were more involved in science, they could help develop solutions that are more practical and better suited to the realities they experience.

More inclusion in science would lead to better ideas, more innovation, and solutions that truly serve everyone.

Q: Do you have a science hero?

A: One of my biggest science heroes is Isaac Newton. In my opinion, he was one of the most influential scientists in history.

His discoveries laid the foundations for physics, optics, and calculus—tools that continue to shape science and engineering today. Calculus in particular has become one of the most powerful mathematical tools humanity has ever developed.

Because I’m especially interested in physics and bioengineering, Newton’s contributions have always been incredibly inspiring to me.

Q: What is your favorite thing about science?

A: My favorite thing about science is its ability to improve humanity.

Science has already transformed our world—from medicine and technology to agriculture and environmental protection—and its potential continues to grow every year.

My grandfather’s work as an irrigation engineer showed me how science can directly improve people’s lives. Even someone who grew up in a small village can use science to bring solutions that benefit entire communities.

Science allows us to explore our curiosity about the universe while also developing technologies that make the world a better place. That combination of discovery and impact is what makes science so powerful to me.