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…)
We are is excited to announce that our Founding Director Prof. Gabor Lovei has published a book on the elements of #academicwriting. Please download it here https://openbookpublishers.com
Prof Gabor Lovei is a terrestrial ecologist with interests in invasion biology, environmental biosafety, agrocology, conservation biology, biodiversity, and ornithology. Over the past 35 years he has studied invertebrate and vertebrate ecology in Europe, East Africa, New Zealand, and China, and has published 160+ peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters, essays, and reports. He is also interested in scientific communication and is the author of Writing and Publishing Scientific Papers: A Primer for the Non-English Speaker. (more…)
From an agricultural researcher to the Head of Communications at the AWARD programme
Ms Dorine Odongo is the Head of Communications at African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and a former 2012 TCC Africa trainee. Dorine’s interests are in leveraging the power of evidence to drive social change and inclusive growth. A development communications leader with more than 14 years of experience, she started her career as an agricultural researcher designing and implementing research projects investigating farmers’ adoption of technologies. (more…)
“What is the plan for AfricArXiv? Increasing the visibility of African research,” says Joy Owango, founding director of TCC Africa, who also serves on the AfricArXiv board of directors. “We do not believe in reinventing the wheel. There are already existing repositories, and what we’ve done is that we’ve partnered with them, and through those repositories, we’ve created a gateway in which African research can be visible – can be much more visible.
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We are excited to announce that Mr. Mutembei Kariuki, TCC Africa’s contestant at Falling Walls Nairobi 2020 will be in the #BerlinScienceWeek in Germany from 1-10 November 2021. Mr. Mutembei Kariuki’s Innovation on Breaking the Walls of Artificial Intelligence was chosen among the Global Top 10 in the Emerging Talents Category in Falling Walls Competition in the #BerlinScienceWeek in 2020, which, had 600 submissions from 111 countries. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic he could not go to Germany and was invited this year take part in the conference
In 2020 TCC Africa hosted Falling Walls Lab, Nairobi, where Mr. Mutembei was 1st Runners Up .
Go to this video and watch the presentation of his award winning innovation
Wangari J. Ngugi is a Consultant Psychologist and Research Mentor. She is the Lead Research Mentor at Eider Africa, with a Certificate in Research Mentorship, where she is involved in the Design Team curating Research Mentorship programs including, among others, Study Smart and Monthly Cocktail for the mental health of researchers. She is a Research Steward under AuthorAID in the UK, where she co-facilitates the AuthorAID Social Sciences Journal Club group. She is a Candidate of Doctor of Psychology, PsyD, Clinical Psychology, a practitioner-scholar program, where she is researching Deaf mental health in Kenya. (more…)
How my postgraduate assignment led to the creation of the first Dietetics centre in Kenya
Dr. Alice Achieng’ Ojwang is a nutritionist and dietician, and a lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya. She completed her PhD at the NorthWest University and Master’s Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She founded the first dietetics center in Kenya, Xenihealth Nutrition and Weight Loss Management Clinic. Dietetics is the branch of knowledge concerned with the diet and its effects on health, especially with the practical application of a scientific understanding of nutrition Dr. Ojwang’ is TCC Africa’s 2008 trainee. (more…)
Pathology is complex and effective communication has helped me pivot my research career.
Dr. Edwin Oloo Walong is a Lecturer at the Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Human Pathology, School of Medicine, at the University of Nairobi. In addition to teaching and instruction, he provides clinical service as a pathologist in Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and serves as the lead trainer at Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) Centre. He is a recurring trainee at the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) having first attended the training on Scholarly Communication in 2010 and then 2020 for training on Science communication and communicating to non-scientists. (more…)
How the TCC Africa training made me a mentor for South African early career researchers.
Bongani Alphouse Nkala has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Physiology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and serves as the Internship Manager and Senior lecturer at Eduvos, formerly known as Pearson Institute of Higher Education, Midrand campus. Dr. Nkala is TCC Africa’s 2013 trainee. (more…)
A research career is a journey and you have to be adaptable as possible
Dr. Steve Wandiga, PhD, is a TCC Africa 2013 trainee and is an Assistant Principal Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, based at the Center for Global Health Research in Kisumu. He has been working with KEMRI since 2004 to date. He is also the Managing Editor of the East Africa Science Journal ,one of the two journals for the East African Health Research Commission, which, is part of the East African Community. (more…)
How a Science Communication training and taking part in Falling Walls Lab Nairobi, helped me win grants.
Dr. Annette Obukosia Busula is a medical entomologist with specialization in malaria vector control. She holds a PhD in Medical entomology from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands and has had over 10 years of research experience from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya. She is currently a lecturer of Biological and Agricultural Sciences at Kaimosi Friends University College in Western Kenya. She is also a TCC Africa 2020 trainee and Falling Walls Lab Top 10 National Winner. (more…)
In the footsteps of my father, the entomologist.
Dr. Fun, a scientist who became a science communicator.
Kenneth Monjero is a biotechnologist working with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO Biotech). He is also the Founder of Fun & Education Global Network and Pioneer and Director of KALRO Science Centre Kenya and a former 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…)
Dr Chioma Blaise Chikere is TCC Africa’s 2021 trainee and an Award winning researcher in Environmental Microbiology and Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons-polluted environments. Her research is based in the techy Niger Delta region in Nigeria (more…)
Prof. Sheila Okoth is a professor at the University of Nairobi and a former TCC Africa 2011 trainee. She holds PhD and MSc. Degrees in Mycology from the University of Nairobi. She has specialist laboratory training in plant biotechnology and biosafety, mycotoxin analysis and molecular techniques at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, University of Hertfordshire, UK, the Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), Italy, and the International Agricultural Centre, Netherlands. (more…)
Dr. Catherine Lukhoba is a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi and most recently appointed as Director at the School of Biological Sciences and the first woman to hold this position at the College of Biological and Physical Sciences
TCC Africa : Tell me about your research career.
I got into research when I joined the University of Nairobi to pursue my Masters degree in Botany. I had worked for less than one year but thought I should join an M.Sc. program since I had enjoyed my undergraduate course.
My postgraduate project was on a group of plants called the Mint family . I came to realize that there were many others that didn’t smell as nice but were still in the same family since they had similar characteristics, I looked at the plants that were used medicinally in Kenya and I had about 30 different species of members of that family. (more…)
Meshack Ambani Mulongo just completed his PhD in Education Administration at Karatina University, Kenya.
His research interest is in mitigation of examination malpractices in universities in Kenya.
TCC Africa: How many papers were you able to produce out of your thesis after the training?
I have published three (3) papers from my PhD thesis and two (2) from my Master’s thesis since I had not published them before. By the end of this year, I intend to publish four (4) each from my Master’s and PhD. I have sent in some manuscripts and now waiting for responses from the journals. (more…)
Edwin Obaje , TCC Africa 2020 trainee is a Biochemistry Graduate from Bowen University, located at Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.
He is also the founder and executive director of Science Squad Africa, a science education network for young people, specifically senior science students across Africa. Science squad explores the science engagement landscape by providing yearlong opportunities for children and youth to learn and explore areas of science and technology using the latest techniques. (more…)
“My Belief in PanAfricanism got me to Kenya and a Scholarship for my PhD”
Iddrisu Barihim is a doctoral finalist at Kenyatta University with a PhD in Social Studies education. His research focus is on the preparedness of secondary schools in their application of online learning in teaching and learning of social studies in the northern region of Ghana.
“I decided to come to Kenya instead of pursuing my education in Ghana because I’m a Pan Africanist who believes we need to network.” He says and adds, “ I believe that we can do it with a strong collaboration among ourselves, and I needed to learn from a different perspective ,culture and context in a new environment and I don’t regret it.” “I actually learned a lot!” “ My capacity has been built so much in Kenya.”
(more…)3 winners were shortlisted in the just concluded Falling Walls Lab, Nairobi Competition. The overall winner was James Kimani from Mother Goose Kenya . He is Breaking the Wall Of Giving Back Dignity to Breastfeeding . The first runners up is Mutembei Kariuki, from Fastagger . He is Breaking the Wall of Artificial Intelligence in Africa . The second runners up was Ms. Daisy Isiaho , who is Breaking the Wall of Digital Healthcare in Africa .Mr. Kimani and Mr.Kariuki will represent Kenya in the Berlin Science Week on 4 November as they compete against over 100 researchers and innovators from various parts of the world, for the Falling Walls Lab 2020 title.
Former 2020 TCC Africa Trainee, Dr. Zephania Birech is a physicist from the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Nairobi, who was at first curious on how to work at a multidisciplinary research level, then later took the plunge and started collaborating with health scientists in his research projects. The result is that, he came up with innovations that have created innovative rapid prediction techniques of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
In 2016 Ms. Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy Of MIHARI Network, Madagascar, took part in a Science Communication training in Tanzania we organized in partnership with the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute. 3 years later she won the prestigious Whitley Award. This is a nature conservation charity offering funding, profile and training to grassroots conservation leaders across the Global South. She went to London and received the award from Anne, Princess Royal
(more…)Celebrating 2019 Training Centre in Communication trainee Dr Esther Kioko, a Senior research scientist and the head of the Zoology Department at National Museums of Kenya. Dr Kioko won the 2019 Marsh Award for Ecologists in Africa. This award is provided by the Marsh Christian Trust and administered by the British Ecological Society. She was awarded for an outstanding current research record, largely completed in Africa, which is having a significant impact on the development of the science of ecology or its application.
(more…)Dr Yusuf Abdullahi Ahmed , was in the first cohort of TCC trainees we supported in December 2006. By then he was an early career researcher and was working on his PhD and we are excited that he won the Humboldt Alumni Award in 2019
7 years ago Samuel Ng’ang’a, came for our training in Scientific Communication and Publishing and came back this year for research capacity support on how to communicate to non- scientists
We are celebrating, Godwin Anywar our 2017 TCC trainee and DAAD Fellow from Uganda. He recently won the Young Investigator Fellowship for the 19th International Congress of the International Society of Ethnopharmacology.
(more…)What is your field of research?
I am taking part in a postgraduate course in Research and Public policy.
What field of research are you involved in?
Molecular Biology with specialization in Plant Virology.
How effective was the course in achieving your learning objectives?
This course has excellently empowered me with soft skills that will enable me navigation the frontiers of knowledge to get literature that I will use in my research.It has enhanced my writing skills that will greatly improve the quality of my research proposal, research thesis and publications that will result from and beyond my PhD studies. Presentation skills that will be used to present my research proposal, defend my final research thesis and any communication I will make. (more…)
‘I wish to be mentored in improving my skills in Data Analysis and I am willing to come for every training in the TCC calendar so I may be mentored by your trainers.’ Four ago months, we got a message in our inbox on a request from Kevin Oduor Onyango.
As he was conducting his research, he came across our activities and noted how we would be able to support him in improving how to analyse and present data. Kevin is a former student from Technical University of Mombasa, where he studied Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Option) and simultaneous took a professional Certified Public Accountant course and reached level 5. Kevin, lives about 450 kilometers from Nairobi, where the TCC Office is located.
One week to the Scientific Communication and Publishing course https://www.tcc-africa.org/courses/ that we concluded last month, we got a frantic message from one of our trainees. “ I want to know where I can publish my manuscripts!” I am so worried about #predatorypublishing and I do not know where to start,” he lamented.
Meet, Meshack Mulongo an early career researcher in Education Administration from Karatina University, whose research focus is on the Mitigation of Examination Malpractices in Universities in Kenya. He drove 150kms to come and attend our course and further understand how he could protect himself from predatory publishers as he went through his Journal Selection Process.
TCC: How effective was the course in achieving your learning objectives?
Meshack : The course was very effective and timely in my research work, that it has equipped me to be an effective researcher and plan to share what I have learnt.
TCC: What did you like most about the training?
Meshack : The diversity of presenters who are knowledgeable of their respective fields and also the communication and concern of the entire TCC team.
TCC: Outline 3 things that you will take with you/have learnt in this session
Meshack:The hands on approach in supporting us was valuable and it was done in such a way that we can further train others. I loved the units on data analysis and I was able to identify about 5 high impact journals where I could publish my manuscripts .
My name is Halkano Molu Guracha a Kenyan researcher in the Malaria Programme at the Institute of Primate Research. The training offered by the Training Centre in Communication was relevant and very helpful and the expectations I had before the training were met and exceeded. I was captivated by the Introduction Materials Results Acknowledgements and Discussion (IMRaD)structure in producing academic manuscripts . This was new to me, and I intend to use this knowledge in changing the quality of my future scientific papers.
The workshop is very informative and eye-opening and the delivery and breakdown of hard concepts was superb and the approach was very sound and tailor-made to the dynamics we face in research as early career scientists .
In line with the new knowledge I have acquired, I intend to approach my abstract and academic paper differently and pay close attention to the manuscript guidelines outlined and utilize the IMRaD structure process’s to produce a paper that is meaningful.
I would recommend the Scientific Writing workshop to my colleagues without any objection as it was indeed of high quality and very relevant.
“There is no reason why we should do research, get findings on socio-political and economic issues and fail to disseminate that information to the society.” Hesbon Hansen Owilla, a lecturer and a DAAD PhD Scholar.
My name is Dr. Siham Elnour Elimam , I am a lecturer at the University of Gezira, Sudan.
The training on Scientific Writing organized by Training Centre of Communication was very beneficial and worth attending. I, together with my colleague, Dr. Abdelaziz benefitted a lot from it. The training was packaged and delivered to match our expectations and I can confidently say that my Scientific Writing skills and expertise improved tremendously. (more…)
My name is Hope Mworia and am a postgraduate student pursuing a Masters degree In Agriculture and Applied Economics at the University of Nairobi, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences.
I have enjoyed today’s workshop on Scientific Writing. It was informative and eye opening. There were a lot of things I got a clear understanding on
as well. The content delivered was extremely helpful and detailed. I do look forward to apply the skills I have acquired in my postgraduate studies. In addition to improving my skills, I have also gained immense knowledge in the importance of editing my written work especially grammer and referencing before submitting it to a journal for publishing. (more…)
The Scientific Communication and Publishing training was timely especially in its application to the spheres am involved in on a daily basis.
The sessions that resonated the most with my work were on oral communication. Having a background of media studies and an interest in science I must admit that communication delivery from the biological and nature scientific fields to the social sciences fields is really curtailed and thus due to this miscommunication, the society lacks a holistic and effective approach to a problem. The skills I acquired would assist me in bridging this gap.
My name isJoelia Nasaka I am in the agricultural field of research looking at nutrition of game birds. The training was effective and timely because I am at the stage of writing and publishing. At this stage, I am very interested in using e-resources and writing quality manuscripts that I must submit to high impact journals. The course facilitators did not disappoint as they delivered just what I needed. I liked the fact that the course was more practical than theoretical. We did everything in the workshop room and we practiced on our manuscripts and we even evaluated ourselves. (more…)
My name is Walter Ojok and my research is centered in Physical Chemistry where I am involved in Natural Sciences-modelling sorption studies. The one week training organized by DAAD and TCC was very relevant in shaping my study so as to develop a complete proposal with clear and achievable objectives.The skills that I acquired through the training will enable me as well as other scholars develop fundable proposals, better my academic writing, gain better grasp of accessing e-resources which will catapult us into the level of world renowned scientists.
My name is Melisa Allela, a PhD student at Technical University of Kenya.
My research topic is Storytelling through Experimental Animation: Challenging Traditional Frameworks of Representation which focuses on storytelling through experimental animation by exploring the use of animation techniques and emerging technologies as a medium for relaying works of African oral communication (orature). Additionally, my research also focuses on how individuals can retell works of orature that were recorded on text. (more…)
I am a DAAD scholar pursuing a PhD programme in Chemistry at Makerere University, with interest in medicinal plants. I am currently working on plant species believed to have oxytocic properties.
I was very much privileged to have been invited as one of the participants to attend the 6-day training workshop in “Scientific Communication and Publishing” organized by DAAD and Training Centre in Communication (TCC) – Africa scheduled for 17-22nd September 2017 at Eureka Place Hotel, Kampala Uganda. I can confirm that learning took place with acquisition of new skills, knowledge and change of attitude. (more…)
This training is a “must attend” if one wishes to be a good researcher. These days it is no longer enough to know things but one has to be able to communicate/disseminate that knowledge in the best way possible and this is what the TCC coaches have helped me with for the four days of this training.
It was also a good occasion to meet professors from different universities in Kenya for those of us who are about to start studies in Kenyan universities. This opportunity was of paramount value especially to me. I have had time to interact and network with other students from all over Africa. I hope to get more trainings of this kind to be able to train others when I get back home. (more…)
During the four days of training, I am happy that I was able to enhance my skills and knowledge in different subjects related to science communication. Actually I consider this area as my weakness which needs to be improved as a research scientist.
The most interesting part was the data analysis where we learned the basics for using SPSS, some exercise and also introduction to other software like SAS and R. The second one was scientific writing and publishing; we went through TIMRAD-C in details and, oral communication and presentation. I was so impressed by the methodology used by experienced trainers. (more…)
