Science tells us what is true. Stories help the world understand why it matters.
How Storytelling is Transforming Science Communication in Africa: Lessons from Kenya's Inaugural Workshop
What happens when scientists, journalists, storytellers, and communicators gather in one room to talk about science? The answer, as we discovered on November 5, 2024, is magic — anda powerful reminder of why science communication matters more than ever.
In 2024, supported by a Schmidt Sciences Catalyst Grant, I had the privilege of organizing Kenya's inaugural Storytelling for Science Communication Workshop in Nairobi. What began as a one-day event became something far bigger: a movement to transform how African scientists share their research with the world.
Why Science Storytelling in Africa Is Urgently Needed
African research is globally underrepresented — not because the science is lacking, but because the stories are not being told. Ground-breaking work emerging from institutions like KEMRI rarely reaches the audiences who need it most: policymakers, communities, and the global scientific stage.As Prof. Sammy Njenga, representing KEMRI's Director General, noted during the workshop's opening: science communication is not a luxury — it is a critical tool for influencing policy, improving public understanding, and amplifying the visibility of African science. Without effective science communication, even the most impactful research risks staying locked behind journal paywalls, invisible to the people it could most help. This is the problem I set out to address. And the response exceeded every expectation.
Record-Breaking Interest: 552 Applicants for 40 Spots
When we posted a call for participants on social media — on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook — the response was overwhelming. We received 552 applications from scientists, journalists, storytellers, writers, and communicators across Kenya and well beyond, including Uganda, Somalia, Cameroon, Nigeria, India, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and The Gambia. The social media post alone received 5,500 views on X within weeks. This level of interest confirmed what I had long suspected: there is a massive, unmet demand for science communication training across the African continent.After a rigorous two-stage selection process — including portfolio reviews — we narrowed the field to 40 participants who represented the best of both science and communication. The diverse cohort included research scientists, journalists, science communicators, and storytellers, all united by a commitment to making science accessible.
The Impact: Beyond the Numbers
The workshop's reach extended far beyond the participants in the room. Here is what we
achieved:
· 150,000+ people reached across Twitter, LinkedIn, and the KEMRI website
· 95% of attendees rated the event as "Excellent" or "Very Good"
· 95% of surveyed participants reported increased awareness of science communication tools and opportunities
· Workshop featured in the KEMRI Bulletin and on the KEMRI institutional website
· A video summary produced and shared widely, generating strong online engagement
Participants left energized and equipped. One communication specialist, Maureen Ooko, described the workshop as "nothing short of amazing," noting she had already begun applying new storytelling approaches in her work. Erika Check Hayden called it "the beginning of morescience communication ventures."
What This Tells Us About Science Communication in Africa
The demand for this workshop — and the enthusiasm of everyone who participated — tells a clear story. Science communicators across Africa are ready and hungry for professional development, peer learning, and the tools to tell better stories. What is missing is not talent or motivation; it is investment and infrastructure.
Science communication is not soft work. It is strategic, evidence-based, and essential. When researchers learn to tell stories that connect with people — emotionally, culturally, and practically — they create pathways for scientific evidence to shape health decisions, influence policy, and inspire the next generation of researchers.
The challenge now is to sustain this momentum: to build more training opportunities, foster journalist-scientist partnerships, expand hybrid formats that include online participants across the continent and develop curricula that serve both beginners and advanced practitioners.
What's Next
This workshop was the first, but it will not be the last. My vision is to grow this into a regular platform that strengthens science communication across the region — training more scientists to tell their stories, building deeper bridges with media, and ultimately ensuring that African research receives the global recognition it deserves.
If you are a researcher, journalist, science communicator, or institution interested in
collaborating on the next edition, I would love to hear from you.
Link to our video of the workshop: https://gumlet.tv/watch/6a1c4fc0057d9d417828c2c2