I am a data enthusiast with background in statistics, operations and project management. I have (6) six years of experience in data analysis, data management, monitoring and evaluation of systems and processes, providing system expertise, direction and training for teams as well as end users. I also develop and lead data analytics with input from different processes and businesses.

I have experience in corporate governance and hold special interest in operational risk management, specifically the exogeneous risks over which we have little or no control. I’m a trustee in the board of a provident fund, and serve as a board member in several committees.

I hold MSc (Statistical Sciences) and MA(PPM) from Strathmore and the University of Nairobi respectively.

Nicholas Outa is a PhD student and part-time lecturer in Fisheries and Aquaculture at Maseno University, Kenya. He obtained a Master of Science degree (MSc) in Limnology and Wetland Management from UNESCO-IHE, Netherlands, BOKU University, Austria and Egerton University, Kenya. Mr Outa also holds a BSc. Applied Aquatic Science from Egerton University, Kenya.

As of now, Mr Outa has published over 30 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=P-mAhyUAAAAJ). He is a trainer in Scientific Writing and Communication at the Training Centre in Communication (TCC-Africa). He joined TCC after undergoing ToT training on content development and delivery which was conducted by senior trainers at TCC. He trains in the areas of Research Proposal and Thesis writing and Defense, Manuscript Preparation and Publication (including the use of AI in journal selection and the use of Preprints, Research Output and Researcher Visibility through Open Access platforms (including ORCID, Google Scholar, Publons, and Researcher ID). Mr. Outa also trains on Oral Communication and Presentation skills including Designing Posters and PowerPoint Presentations for talks, seminars and conferences. One of the highlights of his career at TCC is when he trained researchers and students at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria in 2019To help support and mentor junior researchers, Mr Outa founded WritingHub Africa (www.writinghubafrica.co.ke), which provides training and mentorship on Scientific Writing and Publishing, Data analysis and Open Science, especially for students transiting into postgraduate studies. He is also the Head of submissions moderation for AfricArXiv (www.africarxiv.org) and a reviewer in several scientific journals, including Frontiers in Aquatic Foods, the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), Lakes and Reservoirs Journal, Turkish Journal of Fisheries among others. His research interests include Fisheries and Aquaculture, Research Communication and Publishing and a passion for Community service and Teaching. Mr Outa is also a mentor for early career researchers at Eider Africa and an avid champion for Open Science.

Currently, Mr Outa is researching the potential of Freshwater Multi-trophic Aquaculture (FIMTA) in reducing the negative environmental effects of cage Aquaculture in Lake Victoria. He has also worked in several collaborative research projects in many Aquatic ecosystems in Kenya and Africa have been part of several consultancies on fisheries, aquaculture and the Blue Economy in Kenya and East Africa.

Outside academia, Mr Outa is a trained Peer Counselor with an immense passion for the youth. He founded the AQUITY Youth Group in 2010 to mentor and educate the youth in Obunga slums, Kisumu (where he grew up) on social issues including Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, Relationships, Religion and violence as well as on matters education.

Mr Outa is an independent, open-minded scholar whose dream is to bring a change in the world through research and community service!! He also loves music, comedy and martial arts (tae-kwo-ndo).

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

Prof Cecilia Moraa Onyango is a senior lecturer with fourteen (17) years teaching experience in crop production under varying environmental conditions, postharvest handling and food safety having 17 publications in refereed Journals of which, I am lead author on 7 publications. I am involved in the management of agricultural R4D involving national; regional and international partners including extension services, NGOs, private sector participation and farmers. I have experience in strategic thinking and formulation of research projects and development strategies, project management and evaluation. I have been the Principal Investigator on four projects since completing my PhD in 2010 and in total involved in eight research projects with international partners. I have effective communication skills in articulating results to scientists and other audiences. Besides I have proven writing, presentation and facilitation skills.

I am currently serving and have served in various positions in the university committees that include; Departmental Curriculum Review committee, Faculty of Agriculture proposal development committee, Faculty focal point for common undergraduate courses, Departmental representative in the Faculty Time tabling committee, Chairman- Faculty of Agriculture Industrial attachment Committee and Coordinator-Mentorship program in the centre for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies (CSDES) of the University of Nairobi.

Summary of Profile: PhD holder in Range Management from University of Wyoming, USA (1990); Master of Science (Range Management), Texas A&M University (1982); and Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), University of Nairobi. Conscientious and self-motivated individual with great enthusiasm and determination to excel. Hard working, reliable and resourceful person with excellent organizational and management skills, combined with ability to prioritize tasks.

Teaching Areas: Over 30 years teaching experience in a large university at undergraduate and postgraduate (Masters & Doctoral) level; designed and taught courses in research methods and communication; proposal-writing dry land resource management, livestock production, natural resource management; integrated dry land production systems (PhD) and ecology.

Research interest: mainly integrated agricultural and/or natural resource production/management systems, climate change and agricultural adaptation in dry lands. Principal, co-principal or investigator in many donor-funded research projects such as Making the Best of Climate: Adapting Agriculture to Climate Variability funded by Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA); Creating Wealth For Smallholder Farmers in Arid Areas of  Kenya: The Case of Mukau (Melia Volkensii) funded by Government of Kenya/European Union through the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Programme of Kenya; Foe or friend: Management and Utilization of Prosopis juliflora in Kenya, funded by Government of Kenya and European Union through the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Programme of Kenya.

Postgraduate Supervision: Has supervised over 30 Masters and PhD students

Selected Publications: over 40 papers in internationally refereed journals, plus a book chapter in Rangeland Resources in Eastern Africa: Their Ecology and Development. Dennis Herlocker (Editor), Published by GTZ, German Technical Cooperationbook chapter Nairobi 1999.
Collaboration/Linkages: has initiated and implemented over 15 collaborative partnerships and projects between the university and local, regional and international organizations. Currently forging one with the University of Cape Town, South Africa involving a regional research project titled: “Harnessing the benefits of agro-biodiversity for sustained food security in the context of climate variability and change” under the auspices of the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN).