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.
WAFIRA Impacts, Outcomes and Legacies
Since its inception in 2014, the WAFIRA programme has directly benefited, empowered and impacted 1,500 African female Academics and Researchers, in the countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin, and indirectly benefited and impacted thousands more, through the outreach, mentoring, capacity-building and sharing of its knowledge hub by the WAFIRA participants, Alumni, Facilitators, Mentors and […]
WAFIRA Photo Gallery (2014-2018)
WAFIRA Keynote & Motivational Speakers WAFIRA Facilitators & Mentors WAFIRA Participants (Female Masters’ & PhD STEM Researchers and Academics)
WAFIRA Testimonials
English Testimonials from Participants
WAFIRA Testimonials
French Citations de Participantes Une petite confidence : Wafira m’a stimulée. Si la conférence avait eu lieu avant les élections dans les départements, je me serais présentée aux élections. WAFIRA va au-delà de mes attentes et vient mettre toutes les chances de mon côté pour réussir ma carrière. Son apport est d’une valeur inestimable, le […]
WAFIRA Institutional Impacts – ‘Mainstreaming WAFIRA in African Universities’
A good number of WAFIRA Facilitators, Mentors and Alumni have undertaken very high-level and strategic projects, with the support of senior management/ administration in their Universities, to institutionalise, systematise and mainstream gender equality procedures, paradigms, indicators, and institutional capacity-building mechanisms, hence building on the impacts of the WAFIRA programme. Eight of these ‘WAFIRA Champions’ were […]
WAFIRA Programme Approach
The WAFIRA programme is designed to enhance the skills, knowledge, networks, and information systems, of African women academics and researchers, at the early, emerging and middle career levels through mentoring programmes; international exchange programmes; successful research funding application techniques and methodologies; strategic career planning; and a whole other plethora of evidence-based good practice tools and […]
WAFIRA – Concept Framework
WAFIRA is a highly innovative and African-centric capacity-building and training programme designed to meet the leadership development, career aspirations and professional development needs of African women in STEM, in academia and research. WAFIRA also aims to enhance the delivery of mentoring and support networks to advance the careers, progression and retention of women researchers and […]
Aims and Objectives of WAFIRA
Advancing the careers, progression and retention of African female academics and researchers in STEM fields. Encouraging African female academics and researchers with regards to applying for international scholarships/research grants. Increasing the application and success rates of African female academics and researchers in international exchange and scholarship programmes, and other such international academic programmes offered by […]
WAFIRA Programme Evolution
Background & Antecedents
The Women’s Advancement Forum: International Exchanges, Research & Academia (WAFIRA) programme was Co-initiated in 2014, by Dr. Elizabeth Rasekoala (President of African Gong), as a direct response to address the under-representation of African Women in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), in the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship and exchange support programmes, with the […]