This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
On May 12, 2020, the African Academy of Sciences announced the winners of the Future Leaders-African Independent Research (FLAIR) fellowships, a prestigious award that recognizes outstanding early-career African scientists. Five Kenyan scientists were among the 29 winners, selected from a pool of 400 applicants across the continent.
The FLAIR fellowships are supported by the African Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, and the United Kingdom's Global Challenges Research Fund, which has invested Sh196.5 billion in the program as part of the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment.
The Kenyan winners include Ms Esther Muema, who is based at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and aims to identify local rhizobia bacteria to enhance crop production and soil fertility in parts of South Africa. Mr Jesse Gitaka of Mount Kenya University plans to develop a screening method for sexually transmitted infections using common bacterial DNA markers. Ms Lilian Wambua of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) will develop sensitive diagnostic tests for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Mr Nicholas Musyoka of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa will work on biogas, a renewable energy source, while Mr Samuel Muiruri of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) will speed up the breeding and cultivation process of cassava through genetic manipulation.
The FLAIR fellowships are part of a broader effort to support African scientists and promote research and development on the continent. According to the African Academy of Sciences, this is the second cohort of research fellowships targeting outstanding early-career African scientists.
“Their research is diverse, ranging from new techniques for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, managing water shortage to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, improved methods to store clean energy, and targeting health conditions that are most acute for people in Africa,” said the African Academy of Science in a statement.
