Dr. Rashid Sumaila: It is our honour to have him here at UBC

Recently, IOF faculty member, Dr. U. Rashid Sumaila, has received a number of honours and accolades. He won the Tyler Prize for Environment Achievement with Dr. Daniel Pauly, and received the Prince Albert I Grand Medal in the physical and chemical sciences of the oceans. The University of British Columbia named him as a University Killam Professor in 2022. Dr. Sumaila, who is also jointly appointed at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, was recently appointed “Extraordinary Professor” by the University of Pretoria, named as one of 100 most influential Africans in 2023, and made a Fellow by AAAS and also by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

We sat down with Dr. Sumaila to discuss his perspective on being an African researcher in North America, especially during February’s Black History Month.

Looking back at your career, what was it like to be a young black man in science?

It’s very interesting because I did my first degree in Nigeria, and there was nothing about black scientists or non-black scientists. Nobody really said anything in that way because we were all, well, black. So the experience [of being black] is very typical of North America. This didn’t bother me until I came to North America and there were, very clearly, divisions of black, Indigenous and colour coming into play here.

Back at UBC in 1995, my colleagues would see a black person from afar and they would automatically assume that it was me. There were just so few of us on campus. It wasn’t expected that a black man would be in STEM. However, now, things are slowly starting to get better, and there’s more Black people here, more openness.

What advice would you give black scientists entering the field of STEM?

Essentially, what I’ve come to see is that it’s most helpful to have your eye on the ball at all times. There will be noise all around you, but just try to keep your focus. This doesn’t just involve Black people, but Indigenous people, women and differently gendered people, and people of colour.

I also want you to remember that for every person who doesn’t treat you fairly, there will be so many other people who will treat you well. Once you have that network, you’re going to be okay. There are really good people everywhere. In the long run, I think the commitment of good people everywhere is what will make sure the world turns out okay.

You mentioned a key culture shock when you first got to Canada. Do you have any advice for international students who are going through the same thing?

Beginnings are always difficult, but you have to look into the future and imagine how it’s going to work out after the initial struggle.

I remember, when we came here, finding a place to rent — it was so hard, you wouldn’t believe it. I would see an ad in the paper and call. They’d say come on over, come over and check it out! When I got there, they’d open the door, see me and say, oh we’re sorry, the room is taken. It was unbelievable. But, at the end of the day, we made friends with this lady, Catherine. She had a bed and breakfast, and I called her to find out if she could rent a room for us, and she said come on in. I went and she was leaving for an appointment, and simply said, here’s the key, check out the place and feel at home. She was amazing.

It’s very tough. Coming to a country where you don’t know anybody and the weather is so different; it’s hard. The nice thing is that we do have people and groups on campus for everyone. We have the Black Students Union, supports for Indigenous students, different women’s groups, Black faculty, and Indigenous faculty. There are also groups committed to really helping newcomers of all types, but particularly people from the developing world.

Just keep the hope alive. Just keep focusing on your main goal; just keep pushing!! Most of us do well after a few years.

As a young man, did you ever see yourself where you are now?

Oh my goodness, no. Me as a young African kid doing this? In those days? Forget it. Who would have ever thought I’d be sitting here teaching at a Canadian university.

That’s why the awards you mentioned are really emotional to me. One of them, being named as one of the 100 most influential Africans, that’s just crazy! I mean, how did that even happen? The reason I’m so touched by this is that I’m not even on the continent. I’m outside, doing my work, but the continent appreciates this. You begin to realize that you can contribute from anywhere. Who says Africans have to be in Africa to contribute?

The award by the University of Pretoria, which named me an “Extraordinary Professor,” I find so emotional. I’m a grassroots person and I always will be, but the thing is that, I wouldn’t have even been able to go near the fence [of the school] in the heydays of apartheid. Now they say I’m an extraordinary professor! That is incredible progress!

Your sons are now young men themselves. When they were growing up, what did you tell them?

There was one time when we were having dinner, and I told them, as you grow up, treat everybody fairly. I said, even if you see a green person, treat them well and always smile. My son said, but I’ve never seen a green person before. That’s the point, I said. The day you see a green person, you smile and treat them fairly.

Tags: Awards, Black History Month, FERU, honours, OceanCanada, Rashid Sumaila, Solving FCB