Rising Scholars Contributor Spotlight - Felix Emeka Anyiam, Webinar Facilitator
By Aastha Subedi and Maisie Northing
Welcome to the second blog of the series, spotlighting the many ways you can contribute to and grow with the Rising Scholars community! Whether you’re facilitating discussions, mentoring others, or sharing your story, there are plenty of ways to get involved - and this series will show you how.
Visit our ‘Getting Involved’ page to explore our community progression model, which shows the different ways you can contribute. As you participate, you’ll earn badges, join a WhatsApp contributor group, gain confidence, and help others!
Maybe you’ve taken a Rising Scholars course and want to share how you put your learning into practice. Maybe you have a topic to discuss with peers, or you’re curious about facilitating a future course. This series offers real stories, insights, and inspiration from other contributors.
In this post, we will be focusing on webinars, which correspond to our “event speaker” badge on the community progression model.
What is a Webinar at Rising Scholars?
At Rising Scholars, a webinar (web-based seminar) is more than just an online presentation—it is a collaborative learning space. Our webinars are designed to be practical, inclusive, and community-driven. They bring together researchers, mentors, and learners to share experiences, build skills, and open a conversation around research and academic growth. These can range from panel discussions to skill workshops to knowledge-sharing sessions, and are always accompanied by a dedicated Q&A session at the end.
Webinar themes at Rising Scholars are selected through two key pathways:
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Speaker-led: When community members wish to share their insights, experiences, or practical skills with the broader community.
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Community-driven: When there is a demonstrated demand from community members for certain topics or skillsets.
This week, we spotlight Felix Emeka Anyiam - Rising Scholars steward and a member for a decade (2015) - who led one of our most engaging webinars in 2024. Watch his session, ‘Logistic Regression Analysis’, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZWP9JJ4b3U&t=4608s
Drawing from real-world examples, Felix broke down key concepts such as:
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The difference between binary and ordinal dependent variables;
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The role of independent variables in influencing binary outcomes;
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Diagnostic tools like the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and Variance Inflation Factor (VIF);
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And the interpretation of outputs like odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs).
The session didn’t just stay theoretical; it featured a hands-on demonstration of how to structure and run a logistic regression model using accessible software tools, making it highly relevant for practitioners and students alike.
Here is what he shared with us:
When did you become a member of Rising Scholars (previously AuthorAID)?
My engagement with AuthorAID (now Rising Scholars) began in October 2015, when I participated in the Research Writing course offered by INASP and AuthorAID. This foundational experience ignited my passion for research capacity building. In 2019, I became a Biostatistician and Research Scientist with the AuthorAID Online Journal Clubs pilot project, supporting their development and offering statistical and methodological guidance to researchers in developing countries. I formally became a Steward in February 2021, joining the leadership structure of the Rising Scholars (then AuthorAID) community. Since then, I have actively supported global research equity by mentoring early-career researchers, reviewing statistical content, and facilitating online journal clubs and MOOCs. In 2022, I was appointed an INASP Associate, a role that deepened my contribution to inclusive research ecosystems. I currently serve as the Team Lead for the Rising Scholars Data Science Hub, where I coordinate training and learning opportunities that empower researchers in low- and middle-income countries with data-driven research skills and open science practices.
How have you contributed to the Rising Scholars community in 2024?
In 2024, I have continued to serve the Rising Scholars community in several leadership and support capacities. Most notably, I took on the role of Co-Chair (Development & Implementation) of the Steering Committee for the Rising Scholars Stewards group.
Beyond leadership, I supported learning facilitation and mentoring through Rising Scholars' bespoke courses sponsored through partnerships. This involved moderating forums, responding to participant queries, and co-hosting Zoom Q&A sessions.
In terms of capacity building, I served as a Senior Facilitator for key Rising Scholars MOOCs, where I provided expert feedback, coordinated discussions, and supported participants across low- and middle-income countries.
My involvement in these courses ensured high-quality support to researchers from low- and middle-income countries, furthering the Rising Scholars mission to democratize research capacity.
I also maintained my active role in the Rising Scholars Data Science Hub, providing mentorship and technical advice to researchers navigating biostatistics, data science, and methodological design. Throughout the year, I worked to expand the Hub’s reach by encouraging webinars, guiding blog contributions, and nurturing early-career researchers into more visible community roles.
In all, my contributions in 2024 reflected a continued commitment to inclusive leadership, quality learning facilitation, and strategic development of a vibrant global research community.
What motivated you to contribute to the Rising Scholars community and have you benefited from your contributions?
My motivation to contribute to the Rising Scholars community stems from a deep personal commitment to research equity and the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Coming from a low-resource setting myself, I understand the barriers that early-career researchers in low- and middle-income countries face, especially in accessing mentorship, quality training, and a global support network.
Rising Scholars offered me one of my first structured opportunities to enhance my research writing skills in 2015, and that experience shaped my academic and professional journey profoundly.
This sense of giving back to a community that once empowered me is a key driver of my sustained involvement.
Whether mentoring, facilitating MOOCs, co-leading steward activities, or helping to build the Data Science Hub, I find purpose in helping others navigate the path I once struggled through.
In return, I have grown immensely, professionally and personally. These contributions have sharpened my leadership, teaching, and communication skills. I’ve collaborated with passionate peers across continents, gained exposure to global best practices, and positioned myself as a resource person and thought leader in research capacity development. Most importantly, I’ve witnessed the ripple effect of my work, inspired researchers leading webinars, publishing studies, and mentoring others, which continues to reaffirm my commitment to the Rising Scholars mission.
What would you say to someone who might be thinking about being more active in the community?
I would say: don’t hesitate, lean in, and get involved. The Rising Scholars community is one of the few truly inclusive, supportive, and globally diverse networks where your voice, ideas, and lived experiences genuinely matter. Whether you're just starting out or already established in your research journey, there’s always a way to contribute, through mentoring, writing blog posts, co-facilitating a course, or simply participating in discussions.
What makes Rising Scholars unique is that you don’t need to be an expert to make an impact. Sharing your challenges and questions is just as valuable as offering solutions. The more you engage, the more you grow—not only in skills and confidence, but also in community and purpose.
Being active here is not just about giving; it's also about receiving inspiration, support, and opportunities that can transform your professional path. You’ll find mentors, collaborators, and even lifelong friends. Start small—but start today.
Have you benefited from other community members' contributions, and if so, how?
Absolutely, my journey with the Rising Scholars community has been enriched by the generosity, insight, and collaboration of fellow members. Early on, I benefited from peer feedback on research writing, which helped me refine my approach to scholarly communication and ultimately contributed to my first publications. The openness with which experienced facilitators and stewards shared their knowledge in webinars, blogs, and discussion forums was instrumental in building my confidence and methodological rigor.
Over time, I have also drawn tremendous value from co-facilitation and collaborative leadership, especially in steward meetings and MOOC facilitation teams. These interactions have exposed me to diverse perspectives, helped me better appreciate inclusive pedagogy, and encouraged continuous professional growth.
In particular, witnessing other members’ creativity in engaging learners and organizing knowledge-sharing activities has pushed me to innovate within the Data Science Hub and beyond. These contributions—ranging from personal mentoring to thought leadership—have shaped not only my skills but also my commitment to collective success over individual recognition.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Being part of the Rising Scholars community has been more than a professional engagement—it’s been a deeply meaningful journey of shared purpose, growth, and solidarity. I’ve seen firsthand how the smallest acts—offering feedback, sparking a discussion, mentoring someone unsure of their abilities, can ripple outward and empower others to thrive.
This community represents the future of global research: collaborative, inclusive, and driven by values. I’m proud to play a role in nurturing that vision and grateful for the opportunity to learn from and grow with such an inspiring group of peers.
To anyone considering becoming more involved: your contribution matters, and there’s a place for you here.
If you're interested in hosting a Webinars with Rising Scholars, you can contact our Community Administrator, Aastha Subedi, at aastha.subedi@inasp.info. She will be your focal point and will respond within three working days.