Outcomes Speaking Science
Ethel Webi is a Research Associate at International Potato Center (CI) based at ILRI campus in Nairobi (Kenya). She is involved in projects to develop resistance against late blight and bacterial wilt diseases through genetic engineering in potatoes.
During June this year, Ethel joined the 1st edition of the Speaking Science Virtual Course jointly developed by the Alliance for Science (AfS) and the VIB-International Plant Biotechnology Outreach. She was a proactive, committed and dedicated participant through the five weeks of our course.
Following a hands-on-doing approach, the participants were trained and supported by our expert facilitators to communicate with the public using social media, webinars, storytelling and traditional media, such as newspapers. Fellows were encouraged to share these stories and personal reflections in their countries openly.
The facilitators are proud to say that some of the communication pieces produced as part of the training are now being published by independent media outlets, based on their own merits and quality.
We are delighted to share the Opinion Letter that Ethel wrote about how biotechnology could help potato growers control late blight by reducing yield losses and minimising the recurrent use of fungicides.
She is featuring in The Standard in Kenya!
Rose Harriet Okech is a research fellow at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) based in Nairobi, Kenya. She is an MSc student on a project that pursues to accelerate cassava cycling and breeding. Rose's work entails overexpressing flowering genes in cassava to enhance early flowering and accelerate breeding. This research is part of a Flair Fellowship granted to the principal investigator leading her group.
Rose is a passionate scientist. Her ambition is that her cutting-edge scientific research will help address some of Africa's most pressing agricultural challenges related to biotic and abiotic stresses. As a conscious researcher, she is also very aware of how important it is to share her science with the public and bring it outside her lab. Providing transparent, science-based and factual information to our society is crucial to let people understand how her research will contribute to more and safer food on farmers' fields and peoples' tables.
In June this year, Rose endeavoured herself into the Online Speaking Science Course jointly facilitated by the Alliance for Science and the VIB-IPBOm for the first time. The outcomes of this training have been outstanding. Since then, Rose has become a champion who has participated in several webinars and has produced an Opinion Letter published in the Kenyan media, standing for its quality and merit.
And this is only the beginning for Rose in her journey to share her amazing discoveries with the world. Because she has a lot of science to communicate!
You can follow Rose on her social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rauzzie09?s=09
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozieharriet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-harriet-41613291
