Finally, iSEED Kenya!
First meet-up
We first met on Zoom—smiling faces, curious eyes, and professors introducing a curriculum unlike anything I’d taken in my undergraduate biomedical engineering program. The conversations centered on innovation, human-centered design, and building solutions that truly matter. It felt like being part of a global exchange program—only this time, the experience had found me.
Now, two weeks into the iSEED Summer Program by Rice University, I can confidently say: it’s been technical, transformative, and totally unexpected. Hosted right here in Nairobi, Kenya, this program has brought together brilliant minds and open hearts from three continents. And in the midst of it all, I’ve found myself rethinking what it really means to be “local” in a global innovation space.
It all started with a conversation..
It was during a session with Amy, a visiting professor from Rice University, who introduced us to the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK). I was instantly hooked. The OEDK was a space where engineering was lived: ideas were tested, tools shared, and student-built solutions actually reached real users. When she mentioned the iSEED summer program focused on healthcare innovations in Kenya, I knew I wanted to be part of it. A few emails, online meetings, and application forms later… I was in—selected as one of two Kenyan students for iSEED Kenya 2025. My name is Jemimah Wambui, a biomedical engineering student at Kenyatta University.
First Sunday: Cultures meet
We kicked things off with a welcome dinner. Finally, I got to meet the faces behind the Zoom boxes—the students from Rice and our professor, Prof. Casey Howard. The conversations flowed just as easily as the food: we swapped stories about hometowns, jet lag, culture shocks, and taught each other a few Swahili phrases. We all felt something special was beginning.
The next morning, we dove right into EDES 350 – Needs Identification and Design Implementation Course. And when I say things escalated quickly, I mean that in the best way possible.
Through Hospital Corridors
At Kiandutu
In just four days, we visited Kiambu Hospital, Thika Hospital, Kiandutu Clinic, and KUTTRH. We had read research papers in advance, sure, but walking through those corridors, experiencing the flow of real patients, and being called “Daktari” (doctor) by patients… it changed everything.
I spent most of my time in maternity, neonatal, and pediatric units, and had the chance to follow a patient through cancer screening. I was a fly on the wall, processing every moment through the eyes of a future biomedical engineer. How could this be done better? Safer? Faster? That shift in perspective was huge.
The afternoons brought roundtable discussions that stretched our thinking. Surrounded by some of the brightest student minds, I saw how powerful it is when different backgrounds, disciplines, and life experiences collide in one space. The result? New ideas. New possibilities. And lots of “a-ha” moments.
Week Two: From Needs to Possibilities
Gearbox PCB SMT line
If Week One was about observing the problems, Week Two was about exploring the solutions.
We visited Gearbox Kenya, Drop Access, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Nairobi—spaces where prototypes come to life and ideas get stress-tested. Suddenly, all those needs we’d scribbled down in notebooks started looking more and more like blueprints.
We learned about manufacturing processes and logistics, regulatory pathways, component sourcing, and the role of user feedback in refining a design. We were watching innovation in motion—the abstract parts in engineering were now tangible and real.
Every part—every connector, wire, chip—began to remind me of one thing: Iron Man. Honestly, it was like watching Tony Stark build the suit from scratch, piece by piece, all to serve a purpose he believed in. And that’s why I fell in love with this field in the first place: to build things that work, that serve, and that last.
Beyond the Lab: Wildlife and Wonder
lioness
We wrapped up the week with a trip to Nairobi National Park—and what a wrap-up it was.
I’m from Nakuru, and I’ve been to national parks plenty of times. But NNP being in the city you get to see so many animals in just a few morning hours. The highlight? Definitely the lionesses with cubs. There’s just something about their presence—fierce, calm, and majestic. Totally worth the whole trip for me.
That afternoon, we presented our problem statements to the team—complete with polished slides and thoughtful analysis. We were joined by Dr. Ken Iloka and Dr. Hunter, who added even more insight as we prepared for what’s next: prototyping in EDES 200.
Looking Back—and Ahead
These two weeks have been filled with learning, laughter, and the kind of growth that can’t be measured in assignments or grades. The international iSEED students—Katherine, Sam, Katy, and Sherry—are brilliant, thoughtful, and genuinely passionate about innovation. And getting to learn with them, while showing them parts of my world, has been deeply fulfilling. It’s a reminder that innovation grows where visions are combined.
Now, we move into the next chapter: Engineering Design Studio. Tools in hand, ideas in motion, and users in mind.
Here’s to more sparks—both literal and metaphorical!
Jemimah Wambui