Testimonials – Impact Statements: Participants (AIMS-South Africa Masters’ Students)

On the impact of the Africa Scientifique workshop on their science communication and public engagement presentation & communication skills and knowledge

I learnt the public engagement platforms that I can use to communicate my work and which tools are more effective than others – The public engagement tools and formats that can be used to communicate my work with the general public at large. I learnt to effectively combine public engagement platforms and the public engagement tools to communicate properly with the public.

The sessions were interesting and the topics discussed captured my heart. I really learnt a lot. I learnt about communication skills and how to present effectively to my audience. I learnt how to write a good proposal. I learnt to be able to think fast and put my thoughts down in a clear way.

The facilitator gave me a chance to demonstrate my presentation skills. Due to my participation in the activities, this helped me to work on my weakness during presentation. I learnt how to keep your audience attentive; the pace at which one speaks; the components involved in proposal writing and how to make it outstanding.

I learnt how to overcome socio-cultural exclusion in science communication.

I was able to reveal my feelings about the engagements to the public and learn the good approaches to different groups in society.

Benefits achieved from the workshop – especially in presentation, ‘WOW’ – I mean as a scientist that has been my weakness but in this workshop I learned how to tackle this issue, the techniques and important facts when presenting.

I learnt about the different styles of presentation.

The facilitator gave us diverse tools, platforms that we can use to present and communicate science via written or oral format.

I learnt how to communicate scientific ideas, research to tourists, in industry, to decision-makers, the general public….I also learnt to write proposals and make my presentation to be on one slide. It has given me the capacity to fill the missing gaps needed to communicate effectively.

I learned how to communicate my scientific ideas to the general public and to communicate my mathematics and science ideas using my native language.

The facilitator answered questions relating to how to write a good proposal and gave us a group activity in which my group won the best proposal.

I know what is required of me, if I had to go out there and engage with the public in scientific communication. Language remains an important factor in public engagement regarding science.

I learnt how to properly identify your target audience; identify the necessary tools and resources that I will need to properly communicate my work; and how I can monitor and evaluate how I communicate my work and get responses from the public about my public communication and engagement skills.

I really enjoyed the workshop because it was focusing on my weak point, which is standing in front of many people (audience) and speaking.

I learnt how to include motivation and enthusiasm in my presentations.

I was not familiar on delivering message to people, now I have that skill and I have other tools to use for public engagement and science communication.

Science communication is much helpful not only to the public but to me also, because the more I present my work especially in public society, the more I gain knowledge of what I do too, because of questions imposed from audiences.

Presenting has been my weakness in my studies but from this workshop now I can be able to present my findings to public and science community.

In order to be able to engage with the public you need capacity building training, resources, mentoring and tools.

Benefits of the workshop – knowing the different tools I can use to communicate my work. Now I have gained and been exposed to some skills I will need to communicate my science with public stakeholders.

Benefits of the workshop – An improvement on my presentation skills. Also on how to simplify mathematics when delivering it to our communities.

I was able to learn how to present towards the audience making mathematics into simpler terms – because most people don’t really know mathematics and Africa Scientifique helps with making mathematical sciences easier.

I have benefitted in quite a number of ways but the most important one is the ability to communicate science to any group of people. It has transformed my mentality positively as a young researcher, because after my research thesis, I am motivated now to go out to communicate my research work.

Benefits of the workshop – my communication skills have improved; it has opened my eyes to see the importance of communicating my scientific work. After taking the 3-day workshop, I believe I am better prepared for my master’s defence and to communicate my work in the public.

I learnt how to communicate science and mathematical ideas/knowledge to the
general public in a way one would understand the importance of having scientific knowledge. Science communication/public engagement has helped me to feel free to talk about my mathematical ideas to people who have no idea of the application of mathematics to the real world.

The Africa Scientifique workshop has helped to boost my confidence when communicating my ideas to the public.

Dr. Elizabeth Rasekoala is an International Development Expert on Energy, Human Capital Development in STEM Education, Skills and Innovation and Gender, with over twenty years’ experience in the UK, Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa and Africa. She has specialist expertise and track record in the following areas – Policy Reform and Development; Gender Equality, Diversity & Social Inclusion; Monitoring, Review & Evaluation; Research & Innovation; Transformative Capacity-building & Training; and Curriculum Development/transformation in Higher Education.

Dr. Rasekoala with a professional background in Chemical Engineering and industry internationally, has championed, advocated, researched, presented and written widely on public innovation and transformative development through advancing diversity, sociocultural inclusion, ethics and gender equality issues in science communication and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, skills and entrepreneurship development.

Dr. Rasekoala has provided extensive advisory and consultancy expertise to various governments, institutions and multilateral international organisations over the past 18 years, including the European Commission, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR); the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); UNESCO; the African Union Commission (AUC); and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Dr. Rasekoala’s current advisory roles include:

• – Member of the African Union Commission (AUC) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Committee for the ten-year ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa’ (STISA-2024).
• – Member of the Advisory Group for the UK-Government Department for International Development (DfID)-funded Transforming Energy Access (TEA) Programme.
• – Member of the Advisory Council for the Women in STEM Initiative of Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation.

Dr. Rasekoala has been conferred with international Commendations & Awards in recognition of her innovative contributions and leadership. These include, the International NAT AWARD for Science Communication, conferred by the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona – 2019; The UK-National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) Innovation Fellowship – 2003; Honorary Doctorate Degree conferred by Sheffield Hallam University, UK – 2000; and The Commonwealth Association for Science, Technology & Mathematics Award for Innovation – 1999.

Mr. João Emidio Cossa is the Chief Director of the Department of Communications and Adviser to the Minister, in the Ministry of Science & Technology, Higher & Technical Vocational Education, of the Government of Mozambique.

Mr. Cossa has worked for 13 years in the Communications Field, in various roles and public institutions: from 2013 to 2015 in the Mozambique Parliament; from 2006 to 2014 in the former Ministry of Science and Technology; and from 2015 onwards continues to exercise functions in the Communication Area and Relations with the Media at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education. He was a board member of the Organizing Committee of Mozambican Science and Technology Exhibitions from 2006 to 2014 in the former Ministry of Science and Technology.

Funmi Eyeoyibo has over twenty years’ successful track record of working in the public, private and civil society sectors of Nigeria.  She is a LEAD International Fellow and a Fellow of the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NUFFIC). She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management from the University of Lagos and is a registered PhD student in Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Funmi has attended several professional development courses both locally and internationally and was a panelist at the United Nations Environment Programme Financial Initiative Global Roundtable in 2009, talking on the topic “The Problem with Ecosystems- Valuing the Priceless”.

She has facilitated at several trainings both locally and internationally and has field experience in Strategy Development, Ecological Studies, Community/Multi stakeholder engagement, and Climate Change Adaptation, among others. She currently works in a private capacity as an Environmental Consultant and also consults on Resource Mobilization, fundraising and strategy planning for social causes.

Funmi is the Assistant Editor-In-Chief of the Ecological Society of Nigeria. She is a member of the Business Advisory Board of ENACTUS (Unilag Chapter) and also a member of the Board of Trustees of Abiodun Ogunkeye Foundation and FALCORP Mangrove Park.

Funmi is an avid reader and loves travelling.

Ms. Deborah Nyirenda is a PhD fellow from the University of Liverpool and University of Malawi-College of Medicine joint PhD Program. Her doctoral research is funded by a Scholarship award from the Wellcome Trust to investigate the purpose, relevance and benefits of community engagement in health research. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Public Health from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK, which was funded by a Scholarship award from the Commonwealth. Previously, she took the lead on qualitative studies exploring health seeking behaviour in response to Acute Bacterial Meningitis; an assessment of a triage intervention in primary health centres; and an evaluation of a public engagement radio programme.

Ms. Nyirenda has 10 years’ experience in community development and mixed methods research having worked for International Institutions such as the World Relief Malawi and Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust. Her career goal is to strengthen academic research within the fields of community engagement, bioethics and social science and the development of evidence based interventions to improve the practice of ethical research in Malawi.

David Mbulumi has a rare background that combines an academic background in laboratory sciences and a career in journalism and communication. A Tanzanian national based in Accra, Ghana, for three years David headed the Policy Engagement and Communications (PEC) Department for the INDEPTH Network, a leading provider of health and demographic statistics in low and middle income countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania. He was coordinating Policy Engagement and Communications activities in 43 INDEPTH member centres across 20 countries.

He previously worked as a news reporter, online news editor and senior newspaper editor for Tanzania’s leading media houses and later as public relations officer for a major commercial bank before joining the UN as Head of Communications at the UNDP Country Office in Tanzania. David then worked for one of Africa’s most eminent health research institutions (Ifakara Health Institute) as Head of Resource Centre/Communications before joining INDEPTH Network. In recent years, his focus has been on building active linkages between researchers and other stakeholders that include policymakers, funders, civil society, private sector, media and the general public.

David is a graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania (BSc – Chemistry and Applied Microbiology, MSc – Chemistry) and was trained in journalism by some of the world’s top media organisations and trainers including the UK-based Thompson Reuters. Other skills he has gained over the years include media management, negotiation skills, communication science, knowledge management and public relations. He has also trained researchers on Science Communication and journalists on Media Ethics, Editorial Freedom and Independence. His experience also includes consultancy in editorial services to UN agencies and other organisations. He regularly contributes opinion, news and feature articles to magazines and newspapers. In 2000 David won one of the most prestigious fellowships in newspaper journalism in the Commonwealth, the Harry Brittain Fellowship.

Prof. Aziz Bensalah is currently Professor at the Mohammed V University of Rabat in Morocco and was previously Professor at the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research in the same city. In the latter institution, he has been, between early 2008 and late 2014, Head of the Unit for the promotion and dissemination of Scientific and Technical Culture. Leading this unit, one of his major achievements has been the creation of the National Network for the promotion and dissemination of Scientific and Technical Culture (RNCST) in 2008.

Prof. Aziz Bensalah is a graduate in Fluid Mechanics from the ENSEEIHT (National School of Engineering, Toulouse, France) and PhD of the University Denis Diderot Paris VII in Physics and Biomedical Engineering with an “Habilitation à diriger des recherches” (Accreditation to supervise researchers). His main field of research is the non-traumatic study of the arterial system based on analytical and numerical mathematical models of blood flows in arteries combined with ultrasonic explorations.

Dr Bernard Appiah wears many hats; he is a Pharmacist, Science Journalist, global health scholar, public engagement specialist, and science communication scholar and practitioner, with a special focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Bernard is Director of the Centre for Science and Health Communication, a non-profit based in Ghana; and Assistant Professor of the US-based Texas A&M School of Public Health, where he is also the Director of the Research Programme on Public and International Engagement for Health.

A son of a Gong-Gong beater in rural Ghana, Bernard is now beating the Gong on science and public health, and has received several awards including the Council of Science Editors International Scholarship in 2007, Public Communication of Science & Technology (PCST) Network conference scholarship in 2008, Young Voices in Global Health in 2013 and the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship in 2016. He is the first recipient of Ghana’s Young Pharmacist of the Year award.

As a science journalist, Bernard has written feature stories on science and global health for local and international media including Myjoyonline.com in Ghana, Citizen News Network in India, and the Canadian Medical Association Journal.   He is an Associate of INASP, a UK-based organisation, and has been involved since 2009 in INASP’s AuthorAID, a project for building the capacity of developing country researchers in communicating their research.

Bernard has peer-reviewed papers on science communication in Sub-Saharan Africa, and has experience in obtaining external funding for research projects in science communication and global health; and in building capacity in science communication in African countries such as Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.  His book, “Medicines: Using Them Safely” uses storytelling and cartoons to engage readers.

Bernard has a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy from Ghana, Master’s in Development Communication from the Philippines, Master’s in Science and Technology Journalism from the United States, and a Doctorate in Public Health with a major in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, also from the United States.

Mr Roderick Emmanuel Sambakunsi is based in Malawi, and currently working for the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme. He is currently working as a Science Communication Manager in the Science Communication and Public Engagement Department, and his role involves spearheading public and community engagement, as well as communicating effectively, research science to different stakeholders, including research communities, the general public, and students from primary and secondary schools.

Mr. Sambakunsi has previously worked for several international organisations, such as Save the Children and Action Aid, and has attended and presented at numerous health related workshops and Conferences, internationally. He has also undertaken collaborative research, and published widely in this field.

Dr Judith Gbenoudon is the Director for Informatics and Pre-achieving at the Ministry for Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the Republic of Benin. She is also the Director of the Laboratory of Immunology for Infectious and Allergic diseases (IMMIA), at the Institute for Applied Biomedical Sciences (ISBA), in Cotonou, Benin. Dr. Gbenoudon also Lecturer’s on Immunology in the Faculty of Science and Technique, at the University of Abomey-Calavi, in Benin.

Dr. Gbenoudon has an outstanding international track record in Fundamental and Applied Immunology and Malaria Research, having undertaken various leadership and senior roles such as, Research Group Leader at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, at the University Clinic Bonn, in Germany; and as the Senior Scientific Officer-Immunologist, at the Medical Research Council (UK), in the Gambia.

Dr. Gbenoudon is passionate about research, the communication of research and the capacity-building of young/emerging researchers. She has been the recipient of numerous international scholarships and Excellence Awards, including: the United States International Leadership Program in Science; the World Health Organisation (WHO); and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Dr. Gbenoudon is fluent in English, French and German languages.