Usama Javed Mirza

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT USAMA JAVED MIRZA

I studied Physics and Philosophy at LUMS (Pakistan), and then Education as a Fulbright Scholar at Teachers College Columbia University. I am also a New York state trained Emergency Medical Technician. In the last decade I have worked as an educator and education policy consultant. In 2017 I founded Saving 9, a social enterprise dedicated to transforming mindsets in order to save lives; pioneering initiatives such as launching Pakistan\'s first women-run ambulance, the world\'s 2nd mental health ambulance and creating a novel Socio-Emotional Inclusion Index that measures how well regions are catering to the mental wellness of youth. Through my work, I came to realise that countless social problems are aggravated by lack of conversations around science and religion. I also realised that many of these challenges are a consequence of the ongoing impact of centuries of colonialism in the Global South. This is why my PhD research focuses on decolonising science education from within an Islamic framework. I am doing this by contributing both to educational philosophy for Muslim educators, and by conducting participatory action research with Muslim schools to reimagine science education at the secondary school level. This research will provide rich learning on public policies for social issues and help identify roadblocks that hinder citizens of postcolonial Muslim countries from making substantial contributions to the natural sciences.