Inspiring the Next Generation: A Q&A with Daniel Sim of Omics4CMeat

Daniel Sim of the Omics4CMeat project led the team’s Summer School program at McMaster University last summer. Over July and August 2025, he introduced young students to the science behind alternative proteins and the future of cultivated meat.

We spoke with Daniel about his experience running the program, from the initial inspiration to what he hoped the students would take away, and how the team is preparing for an expanded version this year. Here’s what Daniel shared with us:

Please tell us a little about yourself:
- My name is Daniel Sim. I am a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Ravi Selvaganapathy and Dr. Rakesh Sahu at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. I construct protein‑based microcarriers. They act like scaffolds to support adherent cell culture in bioreactors as we scale up production for cultivated meat.
Please tell us about the summer school program
- The Summer School program ran from July to August 2025. Every Wednesday, I gave an hour‑long presentation to a cohort of 20–30 students aged 11–14 here in the Engineering Technology Building at McMaster University. I walked them through the main types of alternative proteins being researched: familiar plant‑based products, less familiar precision‑fermentation products, and finally, cultivated meat as a future option to look forward to.
What inspired your team to create this program, and what key outcomes were you aiming for?
- Speaking to young students is critical in this digital era where misinformation is everywhere about even the simplest topics. These students may become future engineers and scientists, and all of them will be future consumers. It’s important for us to show them the kind of work we do and how it can impact them. Our team is very dedicated to our work and while we could talk at length about our subjects, it is excellent practice to be confined to specific timeframes for conciseness.
What were the most challenging and most pleasantly surprising aspects of planning the program, and how did you address them?
- Capturing the students’ attention was critical because bogging down the talk with too much jargon would just evaporate any focus. That being said, we did some testing to make sure we weren’t going light either. The students proved to be critically thinking about the topic over the course of the talks, so it was only fair that we stepped up ourselves and gave them more to work with.

"These students may become future engineers and scientists, and all of them will be future consumers. It’s important for us to show them the kind of work we do and how it can impact them."

Daniel Sim

PhD student, Omics4CMeat project

What was your favourite part of the program and why?
- The questions for sure. The students would begin investigating new avenues already, and I had many questions which began branching off into other adjacent sectors of scientific research as well. I enjoy having that level of query after a talk. It shows they were not only listening but actively processing the information and looking for more.
We understand you are planning another summer school this year, with added lab activities and seminar-style engagement. What new elements will students experience?
- Our work involves food-safe products that blend biomedical and chemical engineering with food chemistry to make novel ideas. We’re looking for a way to bring the students in and show them some aspects of protein chemistry in a fun, engaging way. We haven’t laid out all the details yet, but we’re definitely hoping to get them more invested in the hands-on aspect of science, not just the fun facts from a presentation.
As you prepare for the upcoming program, what are you most eager to share with participants?
- We have some new data to share and have been working hard to make better visuals. It can be challenging to convey excitement about a product when so much of the chemistry happens at the microscopic level. We’ve been looking for better ways to share that excitement with them.
Do you have any other final words?
- I’d like to acknowledge my professors Dr. Ravi Selvaganapathy and Dr. Rakesh Sahu for their guidance and our lab manager Dr. Nidhi Jain for her support with technical issues. I’d also like to thank New Harvest for helping fund our outreach to students, this couldn’t have happened without your support!

Daniel’s insights highlight how early outreach can help students connect with emerging scientific fields, including cellular agriculture and alternative proteins. To learn more about the Omics4CMeat team and their ongoing work, explore the Portefeuille de recherche page.

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Centre d'action
en agriculture
génomique

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Centre de collaboration
sur les données
en agriculture durable

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