The Root Of The Science Podcast
*Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guests in the podcast episodes do not reflect my own*
Episodes
179 episodes
EP 170: The Stories That Moved Us: Root of Science in 2026
Stories that move people deserve a wider audience. We open 2026 by bringing the team together to look back at the moments that stayed with us, the ideas that challenged us, and how we plan to grow African science stories this year.From n...
EP 169: Viloshnee Singh, A Chemistry Lab In A Box For African Students
Imagine turning any safe space: under a tree, in a hall, or a small classroom, into a working chemistry lab. That’s the promise of the CIA kit from Chemistry in Action.We engage Viloshnee Singh, the CEO of V4 Group and founder of Chemist...
EP 168: Michael Ofire, Neglected No More: African Solutions for NTDs
Half the world lives at risk of at least one neglected tropical disease, yet these illnesses remain underfunded, misunderstood, and hidden behind stigma. Our host, Anne Chisa, speaks with public health practitioner Michael Ofire to...
EP 167: Albert Mutangiri, Can Tech Save the Bees That Feed the World?
When we think of bees, we rarely imagine them meeting technology. Yet for Albert Mutangiri, a lifelong beekeeper and CEO of Blue Bean Software, innovation and nature go hand in hand.In this episode of the Root of the Science Podcast, ho...
EP 166: Dr Karl Daniel, Telemedicine as a New Approach to Healthcare Access in Kenya
Imagine walking 50km to see a doctor versus getting treated from your phone. In Kenya, there’s just one doctor for every 5,000 people, far below the WHO’s recommended standard. Long queues, high costs, and staff shortages make access difficult....
EP 165: Maboang Matlou, The Miracle Tree: Transforming Agriculture with Moringa
Maboang Matlou, founder of Lefakong Farm, shares her journey transforming a family farm into a thriving moringa enterprise that addresses nutrition, climate change and economic development simultaneously.Maboang's story is a masterclass ...
EP 164: Dr. Keabetswe Ncube, Achieving Sustainability in Agriculture through Genetics
What if the future of African agriculture lies not in expensive technology, but in understanding the hidden genetic code of livestock that have survived drought, disease, and harsh conditions for generations? Dr. Keabetswe Ncube ta...
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EP 163: How Aid Cuts Affect Patients, Research and Jobs in Africa
What happens when life-saving funding disappears? How do healthcare systems adapt? Can domestic resources fill the gap? The sudden freeze of US aid disbursements in January sent shockwaves through healthcare systems across Africa. S...
EP 162: Emmanuel Valentine, Making High-Tech Farming like Hydroponics Affordable for All
With the continent's population projected to reach 2.6 billion by 2050, food production must increase by 70% amidst growing challenges from climate.Valentine Emmanuel, a Nigerian agricultural scientist, shares his innovative approach to...
EP 161: Dr. Tebogo Makhubela, From Soweto to National Geographic, Tracing Human Origins
What if the ground beneath your feet could tell you exactly when our ancestors walked the Earth? Dr. Tebogo Makhubela, a geologist from Soweto and a recent National Geographic Wayfinder Award winner, followed his scientific passion ...
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EP 160: Future Women Innovators, meet the Dream STEM Technovation Summit Winners
When 50 girls from underprivileged communities gathered at the Dream Women in STEM Technovation Summit in Durban, something big happened. In just three days, these young innovators became creators, inventors and problem-solvers who ...
EP 158: Dr Okechinyere Achilonu, Biostatistics as the Backbone of Health Research in Africa
What happens when passion meets purpose in the world of medical data? Dr. Okechinyere Achilonu takes us through her journey in the evolving landscape of biostatistics in Africa.She reveals how this often-overlooked field serves as the ba...
May Root of Science News Roundup
What happens when African scientists tackle our continent's most pressing challenges? The May 2025 edition of our News Roundup, the first release under this segment, majorly focuses on innovation in health.The first is an AI...
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EP 158: The Role of African Podcasters in Science Communication
On this Africa Day podcast, five African science communicators discuss their role in amplifying authentic African research voices. They explore how digital platforms are transforming science communication across the continent.
EP 157: Bongiwe Mtshali, Turning Invasive Plant Species into Renewable Energy
What if the invasive plants ravaging African agriculture could become part of the solution to our energy crisis? In this conversation, researcher Bongiwe Mtshali reveals her innovative work converting problematic alien plant species into valuab...
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EP 156: Dr. Rachel Mkandawire, the Woman Agricultural Scientist Reshaping Policy in Africa
In this episode, Dr. Rachel Mkandawire shares her journey from plant pathology to agricultural policy. With degrees in crop science, plant nematology, and a PhD in plant pathology, Rachel brings unique scientific insights to her wor...
EP 155: Prof Lee Fairlie, M72 Vaccine Trial in South Africa: A New Era in TB Treatment
Tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, claiming approximately 3,400 lives daily. On this World TB Day episode, We speak with Professor Leigh Fairley, Director of Maternal and Child Health at Wits RHI...
EP 154: Prof Kennedy Dzama, Rethinking Food Systems to Combat Hunger in Southern Africa
Nearly 19 million children in Southern Africa face stunting, while over 40 million people experience food insecurity annually. What drives these alarming statistics and how can we address them effectively?Professor Kennedy Dzama, who le...
EP 153: Dr Charles Takalana, How Africa is Reclaiming Its Place in Global Astronomy
In this episode, Dr. Charles Takalana, Deputy Director of the Office of Astronomy for Development and Interim Head of Secretariat for the African Astronomical Society, shares how Africa is advancing in the fields of space science and astronomy ...
EP 152: Anne Chisa, Our Journey and Our Future in STEM Communication
How did we transform from a single podcast into a dynamic media platform that is promoting African voices in STEM on the global stage? Join Anne Chisa, our Founding Director in this exclusive release of where we started and where we are going.&...
EP 151: Anne Chisa and Joy Owango, Amplifying Africans in STEM and African Research
Ever wondered how African researchers are shaping the global scientific narrative? Today, we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Root of the Science podcast with a special collaborative episode featuring Joy Owango, the founding director of ...
EP 150: The Race Against Time: Progress, Challenges and the Road Ahead in the Fight against Malaria
In our final episode this year, we spoke with Jenn Gardy (Deputy Director, Malaria Surveillance, Data & Epidemiology, Gates Foundation) and Susan Rumisha (Principal Research Scientist and Lead, Malaria Atlas Project, Dar Node), to unlock th...
EP 149: Dorcas Jelagat Tuitoek exploring Industrial Decarbonization and Green Technologies as Climate Solutions
What does it take for Africa to lead the charge in sustainable industrialization? Join us on this enlightening conversation with Dorcas Jelagat Tuitoek , a PhD student at the University of Oxford, whose research on industrial decarbonizat...
EP 148: Sabine Mensah, The Role of Digital Public Infrastructure in Advancing Healthcare Services
In this episode we discuss the potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in healthcare with Sabine Mensah, the Deputy CEO of the AfricaNenda Foundation. Sabine shares her expert views on how DPI, with its vital components li...
EP 147: Tabita Ntuli, Health Hacks for Her
This is a thought-provoking conversation with Tabita Ntuli, a global health advocate with over a decade of experience in public health and community development. Tabita serves as an Equality and Rights for All Adviser for the UN Joint Program o...
