Taking the right step in research uptake communication
Dr. Samuel Owuor attended a training workshop on research uptake communication in
Kigali, Rwanda (April 26-28) organized by the Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan
Africa (DUSSA) network. DRUSSA’s 2015 Research Uptake Communication (RUC2015)
training workshop was a two-day event, which brought together participants from various
DRUSSA universities across Africa. The aim of the workshop was to provide a platform for
discussions, practical work and learning on research uptake communication.
There were three nominated members of staff from the University of Nairobi: Dr. Samuel
Owuor (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies), Ms Esther Obachi (Library
and Information Services) and Ms Susan Muchina (Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor,
Research, Production and Extension). Dr. Owuor attended the workshop in the capacity of a
researcher, involved in research-uptake communication process at the University of Nairobi
while Ms Obachi and Ms Muchina attended as research uptake communicators.
The workshop, facilitated by Diana Coates and Louise McCann, provided interactive sessions
with research uptake communicators sharing their experiences and challenges. Given the
University of Nairobi’s success in research uptake communication, a panel session was
organized for Ms Muchina (communicator) and Dr. Owuor (Reseacher) to share with other
participants their experiences and challenges, especially the need for the researcher and
communicator to work together towards a common goal. Having understood and embraced
research uptake and what entails, Dr. Owuor committed to champion research uptake in the
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.
To support research uptake in the University of Nairobi, three staff members were
sponsored to attend a three-month on-line science communication course offered by
Stellenbosch University, South Africa. These were Ms Esther Obachi, Ms Susan Muchina and
Ms Pamellah Asule.
DRUSSA Communications Network/RUC2015 follows the RUC2014, which saw research
uptake communicators selected from various universities receive training on how to write
400-word research uptake articles, define university audience and publish information on
respective university’s websites. Dr. Owuor, Ms Obachi and Ms Muchina participated in this
exercise for the University of Nairobi.
In RUC2014, the University of Nairobi submitted a communication article “From self-help
group to life-changing water company”, based on Dr. Owuor’s research project on “The
Wandiege Community Water Supply Project”. The communication article was published in
the University of Nairobi website (DVC-RPE web page), in Utafiti Newsletter (DVC-RPE), as
well as in Africabib.org website. It was however noted that the DVC-RPE web page is not
easily visible from the University of Nairobi home page.
(LR: Esther Obachi, Sam Owuor & Susan Muchina)
We wish to acknowledge the sponsorship ACU and DRUSSA, as well as support from the
University of Nairobi. The workshop provided a good opportunity to share experiences and
network with other universities.