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.

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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.

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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.