Science Comunication Training for WEMA Scientists

Senior scientists in the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project successfully finished a training workshop aimed at helping them improve their skills in risk communication and media handling. The training, which was conducted by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter in collaboration with African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), aimed at improving the communication skills of the scientists who are spearheading the WEMA project so that they are able to effectively communicate the benefits and risks of their work to the public. The WEMA project hopes to help increase the agricultural productivity of Africa by developing maize that is drought tolerant. It is being carried out by AATF, together with the Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Monsanto, and the agricultural research systems in eastern and southern Africa.

About 26 representatives drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique attended. Also present was Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, the WEMA project manager. The workshop, which was held at the Nairobi Safari Club in Kenya on August 4 and 5, 2009 is part of ongoing efforts to help agricultural biotechnology scientists to effectively communicate the processes involved in their work and their findings to the general public.

Participants appreciated the overall organization, objectives and relevance of the training in their work. However, they expressed difficulty in simplifying technical jargon, and using alternative words and phrases when communicating to the public. They noted the need for more practice in carrying out mock interviews to increase confidence when dealing with media. 

Additional information on the workshop may be obtained by emailing Brigitte Bitta of the ISAAA AfriCenter at b.bitta@isaaa.org.