Why Science? Atinuke Ademola-Idowu

The researchers, engineers, and technologists at GRC who help see, move, and create the future come from varying backgrounds with varying experiences. No two paths are the same, but there is one common thread – a love for science. Why Science? explores where our employees’ paths began – when and how their love for science was born. For some it may have been a favorite teacher or a gifted science kit; for others science may run in the family. The stories told will be fun, insightful, and may even inspire the next generation of scientists!

Atinuke at her graduation from the University of Washington (left) and from Stanford.

This Why Science? features Atinuke Ademola-Idowu, a research engineer in our Controls & Optimization organization. Atinuke earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington Seattle, her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and her Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria. She joined GE Research in 2020.

Atinuke has a passion for research; her work explores transient stability in low-inertia power systems through inverter-connected distributed energy resources (DER) such as energy storage, solar, and wind. At GE Research, she’s currently designing model-based controls and optimization tools to enhance the operation and performance of GE wind turbine systems.

Hey Atinuke… Why Science?
“From a young age, I have always been fascinated and curious about how things around me worked. This led to varying answers to the question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ My answers ranged from geologist to doctor, depending on my current curiosity fixation. These curiosities were fostered by my parents, who are both in the STEM field, and nurtured by my teachers in school. What stayed fascinating to me though over the years was the ability to instruct a device or process to behave in a certain way or to remain within a given limit. For example, setting an air conditioner to maintain a certain temperature or a motor to maintain a certain speed. This led me down the path of studying electrical engineering and eventually becoming a researcher in controls systems.”