Fourth Grader's Environmentalism Honored with NJIT Scholarship Following Racial Profiling Incident
Fourth-grade Caldwell student Bobbi Wilson has recently stepped into the national spotlight after her efforts to save her neighborhood’s trees from invasive insects unexpectedly escalated into a traumatic encounter involving the police. Wilson and her family were recognized during an honorary visit to NJIT, where she was awarded a STEM scholarship to continue her spark for science at the university over the summer.
The nine-year-old Wilson was testing an all-natural insect spray she made from a recipe she discovered on TikTok. Wilson was trying to take part in the state’s ongoing “see it, squish it” campaign to combat the influx of invasive spotted lanternflies, which are killing trees throughout the region.
But her activism was cut short, however, when police arrived at her home upon receiving a complaint from her neighbor of eight years, Gordon Lawshe, 71, former local councilperson, and co-head and treasurer of the Caldwell Republican Committee. According to a bodycam recording published by CNN, Lawshe reported, “a little black woman walking, spraying stuff on the sidewalks and trees.”
The incident has since elevated a national discussion around racial bias and the adultification of Black children.
Wilson’s trip to NJIT came one day after she and her mother, Monique Joseph, appeared on Good Morning America to tell their story.
“I described it as a teachable moment … it’s really about how we view and treat each other as human beings,” said Joseph during her NJIT visit. “Something like this shouldn't ever happen, but when it does you have to speak up, especially for your children. I want them to know that whenever you're faced with something that doesn't feel equal, or you’re treated differently because of the color of your skin, you can stand up and there’s a way to go about it.
“The support has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from the science community. We’re getting calls and emails of support from entomologists, chemists, and environmentalists. … I didn't know Bobbi was this budding scientist, but the way the science world is rallying around her, it’s almost like she belongs to that community now. I'm happy that this journey taught us that.”
At NJIT, Wilson’s family were welcomed with words of support from President Teik C. Lim, Albert Dorman Honors College (ADHC) Dean Louis Hamilton, and the university’s Center for Pre-College Programs (CPCP) Executive Director Jaqueline Cusack, among many others.
“Having somebody like Bobbi come along inspires us,” said Lim at a reception held at ADHC’s Honors Hall. “Our goal is to return the favor by welcoming her and the entire Wilson family to NJIT. We want to respond by encouraging talented and hardworking students with incredible potential, like Bobbi, to grow and not be deterred by what happened.”
Wilson and her thirteen-year-old sister, Hayden, who publicly defended Bobbi at a town council meeting in early November, were honored for their courage as young scientists, and offered full scholarships to attend the university’s month-long Women in Engineering and Technology Initiatives FEMME Program in July.
Fittingly, Bobbi was given a place in the Femme Program’s environmental science cohort, while Hayden was matched with the program’s biomedical engineering course.
“I was excited when they surprised us [with the scholarship],” said Bobbi. “Now, I’m looking forward to being back this summer.”
“I really like medical science as well,” added Hayden. “Eventually, I would like to work in the ER to help patients with different injuries or illnesses.”
Among the highlights of their visit, Bobbi and Hayden were also given a full tour of the lab of NJIT’s Chemistry and Environmental Science Department Chair, Wunmi Sadik.
Wilson says she took inspiration from Sadik’s talk about the world of chemistry and the science behind the insect sprays she was creating this fall.
“Everything was interesting, the lab was really cool,” said Bobbi. “I liked how they talked about making mixtures especially.”
Perhaps it will inspire her to return in the summer and beyond as a budding environmental chemist.
In the meantime, Bobbi says she’s still committed to fighting off lanternflies next year.
“The adults are dying now in the cold, but their eggs will hatch once it gets warm. If you see their eggs on trees, you’re supposed to scrape them off,” explained Wilson. “I’ll be ready next year.”
