Dr. Nicholas Outa is a specialist in research capacity development and scholarly communication, with extensive experience supporting scientists across Africa to publish, communicate and disseminate their work effectively. Since joining TCC Africa in 2019 as a Trainer and now Research Capacity Advisor, he has trained more than 1,000 researchers from several countries through highly practical workshops on scientific writing, journal targeting, peer review processes, grant proposal development, research ethics and open access publishing. His facilitation style integrates structured writing techniques with publication strategy, tailored to audiences ranging from early-career researchers to senior academics and professionals in NGOs and research institutions.

An active scholar, Dr. Outa has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications in fisheries and aquaculture (h-index: 17). His research has appeared in journals such as Lakes and Reservoirs and Scientific African, reflecting his capacity to translate technical research into accessible and policy-relevant scientific outputs. This dual engagement as both researcher and trainer allows him to deliver evidence-based guidance on manuscript development, reviewer engagement and navigating editorial decision-making.

His training is further strengthened by significant editorial experience. He has served as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE since 2021 and previously led Submissions Moderation at AfricArXiv, where he introduced workflow systems that increased daily submissions from approximately 10 to over 50. He is also an experienced peer reviewer for more than ten international journals, providing him with broad insight into editorial standards and publishing expectations.

Dr. Outa holds a PhD in Fisheries and Aquaculture from Maseno University, an MSc in Limnology and Wetland Management from UNESCO-IHE/Egerton University, and a BSc in Applied Aquatic Science from Egerton University.

About Me: https://about.me/nichouta

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

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=K2EQ5wwAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&authuser=5

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.