Name of the event: The Kenya National Research Festival 2024
Date: The festival took place from the 19th to the 23rd of August 2024
Organiser: The festival was organised by the National Research Fund (NRF) in collaboration with Young Scientists Kenya (YSK)
Venue: The Edge Convention Center, Nairobi, Kenya
The festival was strategically designed to raise awareness about the diverse spectrum of research activities in Kenya and internationally. It aimed to encourage collaboration on both domestic and international fronts, providing a conducive space to instilling principles of robust leadership in research and elevating the overall research culture. The festival placed a primary focus on interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, encompassing current and future initiatives that contribute to the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UPSCALE team at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology participated in the Inaugural Kenya National Research Festival in Nairobi. The festival was officially opened on August 21st, 2024, by the Head of Public Service, Hon. Felix Koskei, accompanied by Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, PS, State Department for Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education.
The overarching theme of the festival “Research Partnerships and Collaborations for Socio-Economic Transformation,” focused on leveraging research as a pivotal tool for national development. The festival brought together researchers, academicians, policymakers, industrialists, NGOs, funding agencies and young scientists to foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation.
The UPSCALE team presented informative banners, posters and a booth exhibition. In the booth, the team explained the UPSCALE project, its approach, its reach, and its impacts. They explained push-pull technology (PPT) as a template for the sustainable intensification of agriculture in Africa, and the need to expand the applicability of push-pull beyond cereals, integrating vegetables. Also, the team explained how PPT can create benefits on small plots to other crops and cropping systems and to larger and other areas.
It was estimated that 1,000 people came and visited the festival, which included high school students, who were also interested in learning more about the PPT at the UPSCALE booth. Visitors were engaging in discussions and learning about the latest research innovations. The Festival organized question-and-answer sessions following each presentation. This allowed participants to express their curiosity and ask questions in order to engage in discussions with the presenters. There was overwhelming interest in the UPSCALE project and Push-Pull technology, including recommendations to participate in the Nairobi International Show.
If you are also interested in learning more about this technology, download poster 1 here and poster 2 here.
