Q&A with DiscoverStem mentor Mirza Faizan

Wingspan: What was the process like mentoring the students?

Faizan: “I mentor middle and high school students to identify a world’s problem and innovate patentable STEM solutions to these problem. Many times, it is tough to get a ten year old come up with an amazing idea, so I’ve devised a 16 module course titled ‘Lifecycle of Innovation’. In first eight modules, I train them on foundation needed to be an innovator. This includes modules like ‘How to think like an innovator’, ‘The logic of scientific discovery’, Brainstorming and Research techniques and how to divide a complex problem. The second part of the course focuses on implementing these learning in actual research, which starts with ‘Identification of a world problem’, ‘Identifying innovation opportunities to solve these problems’, ‘Ideating and proposing solutions’ and finally ‘Analyzing the proposed solutions for its technical and economical feasibility.’ This entire course runs for about 60 hours spread over 24 weeks.”

Wingspan: How did you feel when your students advanced?

Faizan: “One of the best feeling a teacher can get is when his / her students do great. It was ecstatic. Although I am an aerospace scientist by profession, I teach middle and high school students for my love of teaching and innovation. It’s always great when you do what you love to do and it bears great fruit. Every year many of my students become ‘NASA Scholar’, as I call them, those who participate in NASA Innovation Competition and win, and many gets into good universities with full ride. The calls, emails, texts from them and their parents makes me feel great. My students have landed into Harvard, Stanford, Duke and other top universities.”

Wingspan: What inspired you to help students to pursue their passions in the STEM field?

Faizan: “I am here in U.S. on what they call “Einstein Visa‘, a visa set aside for best of the best in their fields. I feel it is my duty to contribute back to this country. What could be better that nurturing the future of this country, the students. So this gives me utmost satisfaction.”

Wingspan: What were some of the best parts of mentoring the students?

Faizan: “One of the best part of mentoring the students is that I get to update my knowledge from them. Kids these days are extremely smart and I learn a lot from them. As an innovator myself, it’s always great to get various perspective to a problem and its possible solutions.”