Nicholas Outa is an accomplished expert in research capacity development with over a decade of experience training scientists across Africa in scientific communication and publication strategies. As a Research Capacity Advisor at TCC Africa since 2019, he has successfully trained more than 1,000 researchers from over 15 countries through hands-on workshops focused on scientific writing, journal selection, peer review processes, and grant proposal development. His training approach combines practical writing techniques with deep insights into research ethics and open access publishing, tailored to diverse audiences ranging from early-career researchers to senior faculty and NGO professionals.

An active researcher with over 60 peer-reviewed publications in fisheries and aquaculture (h-index: 16), Nicholas brings firsthand publication experience to his training programs. His work appears in respected journals, including Lakes and Reservoirs and Scientific African, demonstrating his ability to translate complex research into impactful science communication. This dual expertise as both practitioner and trainer enables him to provide uniquely valuable guidance on manuscript preparation and submission strategies.

Nicholas holds several key editorial positions that inform his training content, including his role as Academic Editor for PLOS ONE since 2021 and his leadership as Head of Submissions Moderation at AfricArXiv, where he implemented systems that increased daily submissions from 10 to over 50. His peer review experience across 10+ international journals further strengthens his ability to teach effective publication strategies.

Currently completing his PhD in Fisheries and Aquaculture at Maseno University, Nicholas holds an MSc in Limnology and Wetland Management from UNESCO-IHE/Egerton University and is a certified trainer in scientific communication through TCC Africa’s 2018 program.

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=P-mAhyUAAAAJ

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4085-0398

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-outa-01236846/

Twitter: @nichouta

Grace Mureithi is a Kenyan based science communications and advocacy expert; with more than a decade of experience. She is a writer, a university lecturer and a consultant.

Mureithi is currently pursuing candidate at the University of Nairobi; where she also earned her MA in communication and honors in Bsc. Agriculture.

Her wealth of experience in the corporate world spans through three international NGOs; the INADES International, AHBFI international and Caritas; where she held various positions in the field of communication, networking and media liaison. During her term, Grace EXCEPTIONALLY delivered in multi-million dollars worth projects and earned herself five promotions, several awards and accolades.

Mureithi is currently a lecturer at the University of Nairobi and also at Saint Paul’s University. She also writes for the standard newspaper, a leading Kenyan daily; where she publishes on weekly bases.

Grace is also a consultant at Brits communications; where she specializes in matters agriculture, health and nutrition. She has successfully delivered multiple million dollar projects and earned several awards. She also doubles up as Brits’ media liaisons and networking advisor.

Mureithi is also engaged in social advocacy, where she has founded one social advocacy movement; a national initiative and participated in various advocacy calls.

She is the founder and patron of the True Brotherhood Movement, which advocates for the total inclusion and welfare of students with special need at the University of Nairobi. She also leads the Amani_Kwanza initiative, which advocates for peaceful coexistence and ethnical tolerance in Kenya.

Grace has also lead numerous social advocacy campaigns at national level; including the youth for change campaign, which run from 2007-2009.

Grace is not only a communications professional, but also a life coach, who has mentored several youths. She continues to do so through her job as a lecturer.

Mureithi dedicates her free time to the running and support of the Lilian Foundation; a children’s home she has been supporting with the proceeds from her writing since 2012.

Florence Sipalla has worked in communication in different capacities as a trainer, communication officer, tutor and freelance writer.  In the field of science communication, Florence has worked with organizations working agricultural research and development such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).

At CIMMYT, Florence implemented communication strategies for two projects, the Drought Tolerant Maize in Africa (DTMA) and the Improved Maize for African Soils (IMAS) project. This work entailed video production, where she wrote and voiced some of the scripts, writing success stories, generating content for the projects’ websites and CIMMYT’s internal newsletter and blog.  She also helped to raise the organization’s visibility through media coverage, coordinating field visits for journalists to expose them to the organization’s research outputs.  She also collaborated with communication colleagues to leverage the media coverage through sharing on social media platforms in addition to organizing media training sessions for researchers.

Currently, Florence is working as a communication consultant providing writing, editing and rapporteur services. She also provides communication support to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Kenya (MS-Kenya) on a voluntary basis. Working as a trainer with the Training Center in Communication (TCC), Florence is also involved in training scientists on how to communicate with non-science audiences which include the media, policy makers and the public. The training sessions cover oral communication and poster presentations for scientific conferences.

Florence holds a postgraduate degree in African Literature from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and Literary studies from Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.