Hakeem Oluseyi

Astrophysicist, Former Space Science Education Lead for NASA, and Inspirational Speaker
  • Renowned scientist who has worked on Nobel Prize-winning teams and created 12 patents globally on manufacturing computer chips
  • Author of the new, groundbreaking memoir “A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars”
  • Shares his powerful story of overcoming class and race barriers to become a leading astrophysicist, educator, and advocate

Play Video View Fees Add to List

Check Fees & Availability

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, author the critically acclaimed memoir, A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars, is an internationally-recognized astrophysicist, science TV personality, and global education advocate who has had a long, distinguished career in academia and scientific research.

Most recently, he was stationed at NASA Headquarters, where he served as an Astrophysicist and Space Science Education Lead for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. In addition, he was a professor of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology since 2007. A former TED fellow, Dr. Oluseyi holds three degrees, eight U.S. patents, four E.U. patents, and co-hosts several shows on Science Channel and Discovery International, including Outrageous Acts of Science, How the Universe Works, Space's Deepest Secrets, Strange Evidence, You Have Been Warned, and Strip the Cosmos. Dr. Oluseyi’s success is even more impressive given his incredible personal background and story. Motivating audiences globally with his message of persevering past naysayers, self-doubt, and seemingly immovable obstacles, he is exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau.

Dr. Oluseyi grew up in some of the roughest neighborhoods in this country; he changed schools roughly 10 times in seven years. Living in chaotic circumstances led him to spend most of his time indoors reading and watching PBS nature shows. Discovering a love of science and a fascination with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Dr. Oluseyi decided to teach himself these principles of science. He became determined to become a scientist and overcame incredible odds to earn 3 degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Tougaloo College, and a Master's and Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford University. After finishing up with school, Dr. Oluseyi worked at one of Silicon Valley’s most successful companies and did research on manufacturing computer chips. His inventions can be found in the computer chips you use every day. Sharing his roller-coaster ride of success and the setbacks he faced along the way, Dr. Oluseyi inspires audiences around the world to chase their dreams no matter how unlikely they may seem.

As NASA’s Space Education Lead, he was responsible for co-managing 27 SMD Science Activation cooperative agreements totaling more than $40M. He also provided strategic and scientific advising for SMD investments in STEM Education, Citizen Science, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Strategic Communications. His scientific research is based on "hacking stars" to develop innovative new technologies and better understand our universe. Leveraging techniques for interpreting electromagnetic radiation, laboratory plasma physics, computational modeling, machine learning, time-domain informatics, big data analytics, and high-performance computing, Dr. Oluseyi’s work has resulted in 12 patents, and ~80 publications covering contributions to astrophysics, cosmology, semiconductor manufacturing, and ion propulsion. His science education research has resulted in highly effective and efficient, divergent techniques for teaching mathematics and physics to learners of all ages.

In addition to being the president of the National Society of Black Physicist, Dr. Oluseyi has won several honors including selection as a 2018 Communications Award from the National Space Club, 2015 MIT Faculty Fellow, 2015 induction into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, 2012 TED Global Fellow, a 2011 and 2013 U.S. State Department Speaker & Specialist, the Outstanding Technical Innovation and Best Paper at the 2010 NSBE Aerospace Systems Conference, the 2006 Physics Technical Achiever of the Year by the National Technical Association, a 2005 NASA Earth/Sun Science New Investigator Fellow, the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation Astrophysics Research Fellow, the Ernest O. Lawrence Astrophysics Research Fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2001-2003), and as a NASA GSRP Fellow at Stanford University.

Dr. Oluseyi is one of the world's most popular educators and science communicators. He regularly appears on news programs and has won or been nominated for several awards for science reporting including one Emmy nomination and four Webby Awards.

 

Continue Reading »

Speaker Video

Hakeem Oluseyi Speaking Reel

Hakeem Oluseyi: Unlikely Journey Through Space and Time

NASA astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi talks about memoir, ‘A Quantum Life’ l GMA

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi: How To Hack The Stars

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi: My Story

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi: Infinity Explained In 3 Minutes | TEDx

Behind The Scenes With Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi

Hakeem Oluseyi | How We Know: The Big Bang | TEDx

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi: Teaching Physics In Africa

Virgin Galactic makes history with 1st commercial spaceflight

A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars.
Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi grew up in some of the roughest neighborhoods in the country. As a result, he spent a lot of time inside, reading encyclopedias and watching PBS nature shows. At a young age, he discovered a love of science and space that was inspired by his role model, Albert Einstein. Throughout his childhood and into young adulthood, he was repeatedly faced with circumstances that would make most people give up—a lack of supervision at home, attending his state’s lowest rated school, falling in with the wrong crowd, and failing physics exams when he ultimately made his way to Stanford. But Hakeem never gave up.

Today, as a world-renowned astrophysicist and the former Space Science Education Lead at NASA, Hakeem inspires audiences around the world to chase impossible dreams, fight for what they want, refuse to listen to naysayers, and reach out and lend a hand up to those around them. Hilarious, honest, and inspiring, Hakeem wows audiences with a look at his mind-bending scientific research while motivating them with his personal life story.

A Passionate Pursuit to Understand the Universe.
Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi has spent his life seeking to uncover the mysteries of the universe, including black holes, worm holes, and the possibility of life on other planets. Here, Dr. Oluseyi offers a behind-the-scenes look at the research he has devoted his life to. Touching on the concept of time and the power of the mind, Dr. Oluseyi fills audiences with wonder and inspiration as they marvel at the world around them.

Continue Reading »

TestimonialsClient Testimonials

booksLatest Books