About the Team
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Sanaya Bothra
Founder and CEO, It Matters
My name is Sanaya Bothra, and I’m a student at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Virginia. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work—and how changing a material or method can yield different results. From my childhood days of being obsessed with making slime to turning a cooking project into a ball of fire after mixing water with hot oil, I have always been curious to learn how things work. As I read more about materials, my interests in chemistry and physics naturally connected with engineering, further deepening my interest in how different materials enable everything we do today.
To learn and share knowledge with others, I started a nonprofit and a blog focused on materials science and other engaging STEM topics. I’m passionate about giving back to the community through my nonprofit, It Matters—teaching kids STEM, volunteering at the Science Museum and the Autism Society, and fundraising to support autistic kids. Inspiring young learners through fascinating science concepts pushes me to keep exploring more complex—but widely relevant—materials science ideas.
I invite you to explore my site and learn about my journey. I would love to connect and hear about your experiences! Feel free to reach me at my email sanayabothraa@gmail.com
Ousmane Dieng
Director, It Matters
Ousmane is a junior next year at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. Enthralled with the world of STEM, Ousmane is taking numerous university courses in topics relating to mathematics, physics, and chemistry. He is also involved in USAYPT, leading a team of student researchers focusing on a complex problem in multi-bounce kinematics. Beyond STEM, Ousmane is an accomplished Model UN delegate, an editor for his school’s newsletter, and a member of student leadership. With aspirations in medicine and research, Ousmane volunteers with the Red Cross to gain new perspectives on healthcare and service. He strives to learn something new at every opportunity.