Hi, I'm Sienka (click on the emoji to listen to the correct pronunciation →)
My name means “do not discriminate against” and “don't neglect or ignore” in Moundang, the language of my father's side.
I live with both Autism and ADHD, which shape how I see the world and interact with it. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are my passions. I'm a self‑taught learner who spends most of my time exploring AI, especially how we can harness its power safely. I don't know everything, but I make it a point to expand my knowledge at every opportunity I get.
This site is where I share those explorations: from personal growth and productivity hacks to AI/ML research, physics insights, content‑creation tips, and life in general. I love learning new things and would welcome your knowledge in return. If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know, using my skills to make the world a better place is what drives me.
Last but not least, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to my journey (amazing people, amazing institutions, etc.). I will forever remain grateful.
Read my latest blog post on why I decided to work on AI safety →
~Sienka Dounia
my journey
Stage 0
Born in the heart of Africa to a royal family, yeah my father is currently a King , I spent my first years in Chad, surrounded by tradition yet battling the invisible challenges of ADHD and Autism. My restless curiosity turned into countless scraped knees, broken bones, and many more that I need to write an entire book about.
early years
Stage 1
I entered school earlier than most, quickly rising to the top of my class year after year. My love of reading was relentless. The home and public libraries became my favorite places, where I absorbed a world of ideas that would later fuel both my academic record, and my lifelong thirst for knowledge.
2006 - 2017
Stage 2
At 17 I left Chad to pursue banking and finance at the African Development University (ADU) in Niger, thanks to a scholarship that recognized my national exam performance. A partial offer from Turkey’s Karabük University fell through because of family constraints, so I focused on accounting at ADU.
2018 - 2019
Stage 3
A Harvard CS50 class at ADU introduced me to programming in 2019, sparking a nightly devotion to code and collaboration with an experienced friend (thanks Soul50). I stayed up until midnight, sometimes sleeping on campus, to master new concepts. During this period I learned to mask my autism (not diagnosed at the time).
2019 - 2021
Stage 4
Google Africa Developer Program awarded me a scholarship that turned curiosity into cloud engineering skills. I served as an IT assistant at ADU, and I interned with Niger’s first payment‑aggregator startup, handling API testing and web development. I then returned to ADU as a technical support coordinator.
2021 - 2022
Stage 5
While still working at ADU, my father’s farming legacy inspired a home lab where I began experimenting with AI for precision agriculture, and had a lot of small successes. A chance meeting in late 2021 introduced me to Effective Altruism and the existential risks of AI, steering my focus toward mitigation.
2022 - 2023
Stage 6
In mid 2022 I earned a place among the top 3 % of applicants at an AI summer school in Benin, winning 3rd prize for a project that used NASA satellite data to optimize crop irrigation. Mid‑2023, I left full‑time work to concentrate on AI/ML risk research and was selected as a fellow at ILINA (Kenya).
2023 - 2024
Stage 7
In early 2024 after being a fellow at the AI Futures Fellowship (Mexico), I secured a grant to study deception in large language models. My team we won 2nd prize in an Apart Research hackathon, joined their lab as a fellow, and began working as an AI Safety Content Associate while continuing to mentor and research in my free time.
2024 - now
my interests
1. math and physics
From a very young age I was drawn to the language of the universe: mathematics and physics. My love for these subjects led me to pursue an honors‑level “Série C” track where physics and math were my specialties. I love seeing how they deeply explain things. In fact, one of my favorite science quotes is Galileo’s quote “The universe is a book written in a mathematical langage”. I used to find myself solving physics and math problems on other subjects exam days simply because they were more engaging than the test itself. My father’s playful math riddles only deepened that curiosity, today I still set myself a new puzzle regularly, whether it’s a theoretical problem or an applied calculation.
2. technology
I first laid hands on a computer at around 4, but my fascination with how things work began long before. Growing up in a household filled with generators, motorbikes, and DIY projects, I became the family go‑to technician, with my big brother (now an aerospace engineer) disassembling lamps, rewiring circuits, and watching mechanics bring broken gadgets back to life. That practical mindset carried over into coding when Harvard’s CS50 course at ADU opened a new realm of possibility for me. Since then I’ve built everything from custom scripts to full web applications (I even launched this very site on a Sunday after learning React, Next.js, and Tailwind in one night). If you’re curious about hardware, software, or AI, let’s chat.
3. content creation
Creating is my creative outlet. Whether I’m drafting a blog post, designing an infographic, filming a video, or editing, I thrive on turning ideas into tangible artifacts that tell a story. My experience as a community manager and the launch of my personal blog, Sienkus, let me share insights on STEM, productivity, and well‑being with an audience eager to grow. Seeing readers engage with and benefit from my work is deeply rewarding. If you’re passionate about content or want to collaborate, I’m always open to fresh ideas, often co‑creating with my wife.
4. culture
Language, history, and the tapestry of human expression have always captivated me. I speak 8 languages and continue adding more, while my travels, from Teotihuacan’s pyramids to quiet villages across Africa, fuel my curiosity about people’s customs, attire, and values. Exploring architecture, landscapes, and ancient traditions doesn’t just satisfy my wanderlust; it deepens the way I approach problem-solving and storytelling. I’m also drawn to play, whether learning local games or losing myself in dance. Afro dance is a special strength, though I love movement in all its forms. If you’re fascinated by cultures, civilizations, or eager to exchange linguistic insights, let’s connect.
my videos
Introduction to Quantum Physics
Building Modern Web Apps
Cultural Insights from Around the World
Content Creation Tips
Math Concepts Explained