International USask student Osebi Daudu had the opportunity to work as a guide at the Observatory. (Matt Smith/University of Saskatchewan)
“Astronomy is a huge part of USask, the community,” he said. “For example, we have the Observatory, and I think that’s the biggest bridge between the university and the community because it’s one thing (everyone can) easily understand.”
A member of the public, and a student and a researcher can all use the same telescope to look at the night sky, he said.
“It reminds me of why we do science and how it’s important to people,” he said. “Having to discuss with kids of every age, older people, middle-aged people, and you have to explain things in very different manners because they all have questions that are different.”
Daudu volunteered at the Observatory for three years as a guide. “It was a nice way to communicate with the rest of Saskatoon.”
“It’s very nice to be able to stay grounded and communicate with everyone and be able to explain science as not something that’s complicated and dystopian,” he said. “It’s something that’s all part of us, and we should all embrace and enjoy. That was my favourite part about the Observatory.”
He felt fortunate to receive financial support through scholarships from the College of Arts and Science, and the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics. He was awarded the Ruth and Eber Pollard Scholarship in Physics and the International Student Award in STEM for a Better World.
“That’s exactly what got me to finish this degree, it was the support that I got from the university.”
Daudu tried to balance his studies with volunteer work. He was president of the Physics and Engineering Physics Students’ Society in 2025. He also volunteered to be part of the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Student Advisory Council as a Black Student Representative since 2023.
“I represented Black students across the country,” he said. “Doing all of these things, it was a bit hard to maintain that balance but I could not live my life any other way because I thought it was imperative for the academic side to be present, my research to be present and for a community-engaged perspective for myself. I found it important that I gave to the community as much as I got from it.”
Daudu is currently working with Brisk Innovations Inc. in Saskatoon, on helmet technologies aimed at reducing concussion risk in sports.
His advice for students new to USask is to pursue things that inspire them, and to be the change they want to see in the world.
“If I could go back in time, I would do it again because the number of people who get inspired to do things you did—to try to be in the student community and be a president and change things. Or find a problem—and not just speak about it—but decide to make change.
“It’s part of being what the world needs, that’s really what it is.”