IFS Alumni Association in Kenya launched

Published: 2014-02-19

At a meeting of IFS grantees, former grantees and advisers held at the ICIPE Duduville campus in Nairobi, Kenya on 13-14 February, the IFS Alumni Association of Kenya (IFSAAK) was officially launched, bringing the number of active IFS Alumni Associations now to six.

Kenya Alumni meeting - Group photo

The meeting in Nairobi, which was hosted by ICIPE and chaired by Prof Ratemo Micheaka of Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS), constituted the Association and elected its executive. It was attended by 25 IFS grantees and former grantees, chosen representatively from all the universities and regions in Kenya. All 221 grantees and former grantees in Kenya were informed and are invited as members of the Association. Attending were also a number of IFS advisers.

Possible activities for the Alumni Association were suggested and planned. They included: mentoring of upcoming scientists, including workshops in proposal writing; collaborative research among members; fundraising; training courses; organising conferences; the publishing situation of members; outreach and spreading awareness of IFS in Kenyan institutions.

There were also wide ranging discussions on a number of issues relevant to science in Kenya and Africa generally. Particularly hot was the subject of scientific equipment policy, both at institutional and governmental levels, and how it affects the quality of equipment available, the working safety of scientists and technicians, and the ability of researchers to carry out their research.

The elected executive is as follows:

President:        Mr David Chiawo
Conservation ecologist, wildlife and sustainable tourism management lecturer and PhD candidate, Strathmore University. (IFS grant 2011)

Vice President:   Dr Jane Ambuko
Horticulture and plant scientist, lecturer in horticulture and crop protection, University of Nairobi. (IFS grant 2010)

Secretary:        Dr Sheila Ommeh
Research Fellow: Molecular Geneticist, Animal Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biotechnology Research (IBR), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. (IFS grant 2013)

Treasurer:        Dr Lucy Kananu Murungi
Crop Protection/Chemical Ecology; Postdoctoral research fellow at icipe and lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. (IFS grant 2012)

Committee members:

Ms Dorice Situma
Environmental chemist, senior lecturer in water quality and PhD candidate, Kenya Water Institute (KEWI). (IFS grant 2011)

Dr Harrison Charo Karisa
Aquaculturalist, Acting Director of the National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre (NARDTC), Sagana. (IFS grant 2007)

Dr Charles S.W. Recha
Climatologist, lecturer in climatology and water resource management, Egerton University. (IFS grant 2010)

The IFS advisers in attendence:

Dr Daniel Masiga
Research Scientist and Head, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi.
(Former IFS grantee: 1995 & 2000)

Prof Hamadi Boga
Principal, Taita Taveta University College.
(Former IFS grantee: 2007)

Prof Ratemo Michieka
Secretary General, Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS).

Dr Berhanu Abegaz
President, African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
(Former IFS grantee: 1975, 1977 & 1980)

Dr Nighisty Ghezae
IFS Head of Programme

 

The Kenyan IFS Alumni Association is the sixth to be established; the others being in Benin, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali and Uganda. Efforts are underway to build Alumni Associations also in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Ghana.

2 comments

Comments

  1. ALFRED JOHN OMORO, Apr 07, 2014 at 01:32 PM
    www.pu.ac.ke

    A wonderful initiative in Kenya.Keep up.

  2. Graham Haylor, Feb 20, 2014 at 09:47 AM

    Congratulations to the Kenya Alumni Association we look forward to engaging with you on the issues and activities you have highlighted. We look forward to hearing about how you are communicating with alumni and applicants in Kenya and how you are linking with colleagues in Benin, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali and Uganda. and also in due course in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Ghana.

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