Check out my article published in nature world view magazine

The case for science communication in Africa

Africa is facing a critical challenge: a severe lack of science communication, particularly in science journalism, which is "almost non-existent" even in countries becoming research hubs. This gap has significant consequences, as evidenced by the widespread of misinformation and conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya and the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

Despite groundbreaking contributions by African scientists, such as research from Kenya showing the effectiveness of a single dose of the HPV vaccine (which led to global WHO recommendations and saved millions of lives), this vital information often fails to reach the public. This is largely due to limited science journalism outlets, infrequent science-related news, and a scarcity of journalists and researchers trained in science communication across the continent. While science communication training has been available for decades in Europe and the US, most African universities lack such courses, with the exception of South Africa.

To address this I propose:

• Universities introducing science communication courses.

• Governments funding dedicated communication departments.

• Recognizing media contributions as formal scientific outputs.

• Creating networks like the UK Science Media Centre to connect journalists and researchers.

Investing in science communication is vital for Africa’s socio-economic development, ensuring scientific advancements reach the public and combat misinformation. Without it, opportunities for innovation and progress will be lost

Access the full PDF article here: https://rdcu.be/eyke8