By Lilian Cheruiyot
Imagine spending years conducting intensive research in developing a disease-resistant crop that could provide millions of people with food, only for the breakthrough to gather dust on a library shelf or worse, get overshadowed by a wave of viral misinformation on social media.
For far too long, a silent barrier has stood between the intricate nature of science and the people that require it the most – the farmers. But now deliberate efforts have been made to remove this barrier. Scientists are coming out from behind their microscopes and fields into the spotlight to learn a crucial new skill, the art of storytelling.
The staff from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) participated in a two-day intensive training workshop on Science Communication and Media Engagement facilitated by the ISAAA AfriCenter. The workshop, running from 13th-14th May, 2026, brought together a mix of researchers, scientists and communication professionals with a mission to learn on how to translate complex science into information that can be understood to the general public.
“Bring research from the lab to the people, and let the results be seen in the field. It is time for every researcher to speak about their work, share innovations and make science impactful to society,” remarked Dr. Patrick Ketiem, Director General, KALRO.
The core message of the workshop was clear: in the modern world, communication is no longer an optional afterthought, it is a core scientific responsibility.
“Scientists conduct valuable research, but without effective communication, the impact of the research remains limited,” noted Dr. Alice Murage, KALRO’s Deputy Director General for Crops as she officially closed the workshop. “If scientists fail to communicate their work effectively, pseudo-scientists may step in to shape public narratives negatively and inaccurately,” she said.
In her remarks, ISAAA AfriCenter Director Dr. Margaret Karembu underscored the need for effective communication in science saying that it fosters trust and facilitates societal impact. “This is especially important in agricultural biotechnology, where public understanding, stakeholder engagement and responsible communication are critical to technology uptake and policy support,” Dr. Karembu observed.
One of arguably the most major obstacles in science communication is the use of highly technical jargon. In order to tackle this, participants were thrown in the deep end with “message mapping” exercises. What is the challenge? Years of technical study should be condensed into a clear, effective 30-second message that any local farmer or busy policymaker can understand and adopt right away.
The workshop also offered an opportunity for the participants to visit a KingaKUU cassava trial site at KALRO Horticultural Research Institute located about 45 kilometers north-east of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. KingaKUU cassava is biotech cassava resistant to brown streak disease (CBSD) and mosaic disease (CMD) responsible for up to 100% loss in cassava yield. The improved cassava, developed by KALRO scientists and their partners, is its final stages of approval before it can reach farmers’ hands guaranteeing them better protection, improved yield and higher income.
At the end of the two-day workshop, the participating scientists demonstrated increased skills and confidence in engaging the media about their research work. The workshop underscored the importance of media relations because it is a critical pathway for connecting science and society, where translation of research into impact happens and communities adopt scientific innovations.
The training will further support the integration of communication into KALRO’s research programs from the outset, in line with KALRO’s Strategic Plan, ensuring that scientific advancements reach end users seamlessly and create meaningful impact.