EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, Emmanuel Boakye, co-founder of the African Reproducibility Network (AREN), discusses the role of open science in Africa and the importance of research reproducibility. He shares how AREN is bridging gaps in research culture through grassroots advocacy, training programs, and policy engagement, while addressing challenges like institutional buy-in and funding. Learn how African researchers can take the lead in shaping the future of open science. (more…)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Mazungumzo – African Scholarly Conversations, Professor Nelson Ijumba shares his experience leading the restructuring of the University of Rwanda, merging seven institutions into one research-led university. He discusses the challenges of institutional change, faculty development, and internationalization, offering key insights for higher education leaders looking to enhance research and innovation in African universities. (more…)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this special collaboration episode, Joy Owango of Mazungumzo – African Scholarly Conversations and Anne Chisa of The Root of Science Podcast come together for a dynamic and insightful discussion.

They explore how their platforms have grown into vital spaces for amplifying African research, highlighting the transformative power of science communication. Joy reflects on her 18 years of experience training researchers and building systems for scholarly communication, while Anne shares her journey of showcasing African scientists and their stories to inspire global audiences. (more…)

At the heart of science communication lies a simple truth: stories shape how we understand and engage with the world. This belief has fueled the journeys of Mazungumzo – African Scholarly Conversations and The Root of Science Podcast, and it’s with great excitement that we announce their collaboration. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS
African scholarly conversations, Arab States Research, education network, ICT infrastructure, higher education, open science, research collaboration, policy support, capacity building, regional connectivity, funding challenges, science cooperation, open access, data sharing, network expansion
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode, we welcome Yousef Torman, Managing Director of the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), to discuss how the organization is transforming research collaboration and advancing open science across the Arab and North African regions. (more…)

As we conclude Season 2 of our podcast, we’re reminded of the incredible journeys and transformative insights shared by some of Africa’s most inspiring thinkers, innovators, and leaders. This season has been a rich exploration of themes like mentorship, gender equality, (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Research, Africa, ORCID, scholarly communication, researchers, higher education, underrepresented, development, sustainable development goals, visibility.

EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this captivating finale of Season 2, the Mazungumzo podcast welcomes Lombe Tembo, Grant Program Officer and Engagement Lead at ORCID. This episode delves into the critical intersection of scholarly communication, economic development, and research visibility in Africa. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

somalia, universities, library, research, resources, ahmed, access, university, institutions, library association, digital, DOI, academic libraries, joint initiatives, capacity, Research4Life

EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this episode, we explore efforts to rebuild Somalia’s scholarly landscape post-civil conflict. Eng. Ahmed Dahir Siyad from SomaliREN and Mr. Mohamud Mohamed Siad from the Somali Library Association (SLA) discuss challenges and progress in improving digital infrastructure, research access, and libraries. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS
research, continent, funding agencies, granting councils, science, gender, women, inclusivity, NRF support, system, strengthening, change, South Africa, engendering, policies.

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

This episode features a powerful narrative of resilience, innovation, and the ongoing quest for inclusive science in Africa. Dr. Dorothy Ngila, drawing from her unique “Afropolitan” experience, presents a roadmap for institutional reform in science and research. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

data, evidence-based, research, county, kenya, hackathon, technology, big data, years, health researcher,  health, challenges, output

EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this podcast episode, James Ngumo Kariuki, a senior research scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), shares his perspectives on the critical role of data stewardship, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology in shaping the future of health research in Kenya. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

open, science, south africa, policy, africa, data, work, scholarly publishing, research, initiatives, access, journals, continent, publishing, scholarly, open access publishing, researchers, region, authors,

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode takes us through South Africa’s journey towards embracing Open Science, a paradigm shift that aims to address societal challenges and promote research integrity. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

librarians, university, information, library association, institutions, libraries, research, , resources, data management information systems, electronic, students, management (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

mentorship, research, aquaculture, facilitator, science communication and social media, rural communities, aquatic ecologist

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, we embark on a journey with Nicholas Outa, a driving force behind research mentorship at TCC Africa. Beginning as an early career researcher, Nicholas’s trajectory took an unexpected turn as he discovered a passion for mentorship and facilitation. We delve into how his hands-on training experiences shaped his evolution, propelling him from a learner to a trainer, guiding others in their research pursuits. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

gender mainstreaming, support, research, women, institution, academic, university, gender, mentoring, academia, project, program, researchers, toolkit, workshop, vice chancellor, awareness, influenced, teaching

EPISODE SUMMARY

INTRO:

Welcome to Mazungumzo, African scholarly conversations, a podcast that highlights the perspectives of various stakeholders in academia, or research fields across Africa through open dialogue or Muslims on scholarly communication in Africa. (more…)

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

librarians, researchers, africa, research, libraries, digital, challenges, issue, institutions, years, journey, african, university, information, support, access, pushing

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, Dr. Gracian Chimwaza, the founding director of the Information Training & Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA), narrates his 24-year journey in leading capacity development and research projects across African countries. Dr. Chimwaza emphasizes the challenges, triumphs, and the evolving role of librarians in scholarly communication in Africa. The episode is a captivating exploration of the dynamic landscape of research, digital libraries, and the importance of collaborative efforts to advance information access and education in the continent. (more…)

KEYWORDS
mathematics, women, university, tanzania, girls, africa, science, stem, join, professor, year, masters, gills, men, policy, education, engineering, program, primary, continued

EPISODE SUMMARY
Professor Masanja’s journey is described as one of resilience, determination, and a commitment to empowering women in STEM. (more…)

Two leading voices in African science and scholarly communication, the Africa Science Focus podcast by the Science and Development Network (SciDev.net) and Mazungumzo – African Scholarly Conversations Podcast by Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), are collaborating to enrich the discourse surrounding science, technology, and scholarly pursuits in Africa.  (more…)

Celebrating 20 Years of DOAJ! Advancing African Research and Open Access with insights from Prof. Kamel Belhamel, DOAJ Ambassador for North Africa

KEYWORDS

Africa, Journal, Language Diversity, Algeria, Open access, Open Science, North Africa, DOAJ, Higher education, Ambassador

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode explores DOAJ’s efforts to collaborate with African countries, promoting accessibility, open access policies, and launching digital platforms as it celebrates its 20th year. We are joined by Prof. Kamel Belhamel, the DOAJ Ambassador for North Africa, who shares his insights on the representation of African journals in DOAJ, the complexities of language diversity and the role of open access in the African scholarly landscape.

Professor Kamel holds the position of Full Professor of Chemistry at the University of Bejaia, Algeria. Beyond his teaching role, he has been an Ambassador for North Africa with the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) since 2016 and is the Editor-in-Chief of the DOAJ-indexed Algerian Journal of Natural Products. (more…)

Beyond the borders: Dr.Rana Dajani`s journey in Global Innovation and Literacy

 Listen to the full episode here: https://afripods.africa/episode/season-2-premiere-beyond-the-bor/5f44d54c-f03b-49a8-801d-784c2c38aba3

PODCAST SUMMARY

We begin the second season of Mazungumzo by taking an explorative  journey into Dr.Rana Dajani`s work and life. Driven by a deep commitment to literacy and women empowerment in STEM, she has taken on various key roles that are part of her dedication. (more…)

This September marks a notable juncture for Mazungumzo- African Scholarly Conversations podcast. We’re celebrating not one but two momentous milestones: our one-year anniversary and the culmination of season one. Our journey to amplify African voices in academia and research has been nothing short of remarkable with its share of challenges and incredible successes. (more…)

The convergence of science and communication as a catalyst in empowering change in vulnerable communities with Jhpiego’s- Verah Vashti Okeyo

In this episode, we delve into a world where science and journalism intersect, uncovering the profound impact that they have in shaping a more informed society. (more…)

Exploring the transformative power of scholarships in African Academia with RSIF’S-Bonface Nyagah

Postgraduate research is a journey of discovery and knowledge creation. It goes beyond simply learning how to think and delves into the realm of producing new knowledge. To embark on this journey, one must build upon existing knowledge, using it as a solid foundation. However, it is crucial to recognize that the pursuit of new knowledge requires support. (more…)

Sustaining Scholarly Communications for Future Generations: Approaches for African Libraries by AFLIA’S Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah.

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/ | Listen on Anchor FM

PODCAST SUMMARY

On this episode of the podcast, we had the privilege of catching up with Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah, an accomplished leader in academic librarianship, as he shares his insights on librarianship and leadership, especially when it comes to promoting open science (more…)

Demystifying Open Science in Africa: Understanding its Importance and Implementation with AAU’s- Abednego Corletey

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/ | Listen on Anchor FM

While there has been a shift in how Open Science is perceived in Africa, ‘Open’ is still being misconstrued to mean that it is a loose and unstructured approach to scientific research, without restrictions or regulations. This is not the case. (more…)

Why Open Science Matters: Perspectives from an African Scholarly Communication Expert

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/news-room  | Listen on Anchor FM

For many years, African libraries have been struggling to keep up with the rest of the world in terms of access to scientific information and resources. This has led to a situation where valuable research findings are often shelved and not shared with the wider scientific community, and libraries are forced to operate with limited resources, hindering their ability to provide quality services to their users. In this episode, we (more…)

The Journey of a Resilient African Mother in Science and Leadership

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/news-room  | Listen on Anchor FM

Podcast Summary

Today’s episode features the inspiring story of Professor Chioma Blaise Chikere, a visionary leader and scientist, who is breaking barriers and defying stereotypes in research. As a mother and African woman, she’s on a mission to show the world the potential of women and the importance of giving them a voice. Hear her story of overcoming academic bias and progress to a successful career in academia. Prof. Chioma proves that if you’re not given a seat at the table, bring your own folding seat and create a space for yourself. (more…)

Promoting innovative and sustainable research opportunities for women scientist in Nigeria

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/news-room  | Listen on Anchor FM

Podcast Summary

Kick starting our podcast series this year is self-proclaimed ‘woman in science’, widely published soil scientist and the National Chairperson, the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Nigeria Chapter, Professor Olayinka Nwachukwu. She talks about how her work with the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is promoting gender equality in science and technology in Nigeria, and how this can lead to more inclusive and sustainable solutions to local and global problems. She also shares her personal experiences as a woman in science offering advice to young women and early career researchers on the challenges and opportunities that exist particularly in Nigeria.

  (more…)

Why Research Mentorship Matters while Navigating Academia: Insights from Eider Africa’s founder, Aurelia Munene

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/news-room  | Listen on Anchor FM

Podcast Summary

If you are a researcher, you are probably familiar with the research lifecycle and all the challenges and opportunities that come with it. With this in mind, Eider Africa- a women-led social enterprise, has been working towards supporting researchers by providing a safe space for mentorship throughout the research life cycle and amplifying the voices of African researchers. (more…)

Research to Commercialization- How research institutions and universities can cultivate an environment that spurs innovation

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/news-room  | Listen on Anchor FM

 Podcast Summary

‘You need to fall in love with and maximize the problem if you are looking to be able to come up with a brilliant solution”, asserts our guest, Ms. Agnes Tsuma as she narrates her journey coming into research innovation and commercialization. This episode features an engaging conversation that highlights the existing opportunities for early career innovators in Kenya, the current state of industry-academia linkage, and the strategic steps by KENIA to propel research outputs and technology from our institutions to the marketplace.

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Empowering children and youth to be agents of change through science communication

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/  | Listen on Anchor FM

Podcast Summary

Former TCC Africa trainee, Mr. Kenneth Monjero fondly known as Dr. Fun, shares how his passion for science communication has inspired his academic journey and led him to promote the accessibility of science and scientific innovations to better the lives of children and youth in Africa through his organization, Fun & Education Global Network. Fun & Education Global Network seeks to improve lives globally through interactive learning experiences, sharing information, mentorship, and teamwork to better the lives of children, teens, and youth.

Kenneth Monjero is a biotechnologist working with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO Biotech). He is also the Lead of KALRO Children Science Centre and a former TCC Africa trainee and postgraduate in Crop Science from the University of Nairobi. He is well known globally by students as Dr. Fun as he comes up with ingenious ways for making children between 5 -18 years appreciate the beauty and importance of science. (more…)

The significance of inter-ministerial involvement in drafting Open Science policies in Africa

Link to the full episode: https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/

‘Open Science will happen whether you’re on it or not as the world moves through an era of digitization,’ affirms our guest, Dr. Nokuthula Mchunu, the Deputy- Director of the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) and a Senior Researcher from the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa in the Biotechnology Platform.

(more…)

Coming Soon 🎙️ 🎙️ 🎙️

Welcome to Mazungumzo – African Scholarly Conversations, a podcast that highlights the perspectives of various stakeholders in academia and research fields across Africa through open dialogue or ‘Mazungumzo’ (in Swahili) on scholarly communication in Africa.We are joined by an expansive list of African policymakers, science communication specialists, innovators, and tertiary institution leads who contribute to this realm of scholarly and science communication.Karibu sana (You’re welcome) and we look forward to listening and sharing your stories.