The Root Of The Science Podcast

Send us Fan Mail 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 neglected tropical diseases to health funding cuts, we unpack why some conversations travelled further than others: real people, real consequences...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Chemistry in Action to unpack how a simple, affordable tool can improve science education across Africa.  We talk about the access gap in STEM, why so m...

Send us Fan Mail 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 unpack what “neglect” really means, how NTDs entrench poverty and how policy, primary care, and community action can break the cycle.  Michael Ofire s...

Send us Fan Mail 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, host Anne Chisa explores HivePulse, a smart monitoring system that uses sensors and data analytics to track hive health, boost pollination, and stre...

Send us Fan Mail 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. In this episode of Rooted in Health II, Anne Chisa speaks with Dr. Karl Daniel, a medical doctor and healthcare entrepreneur, on how TIBU...

Send us Fan Mail 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 in agricultural innovation and perseverance. Get started with moringa farming by listening to Maboang explain the research, planning your ma...

Send us Fan Mail 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 takes us on a journey into agrigenomics - the science of using genetics to improve crops and livestock for healthier, stronger farming systems.  From her...

Send us Fan Mail 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. Six months later, what was once a policy announcement has turned into a devastating reality for millions who depend on life-saving HIV and TB services....

Send us Fan Mail 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 solving Africa's food security challenges through sustainable farming techniques and entrepreneurship. Valentine's research on the...

Send us Fan Mail 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 and is now uncovering these ancient stories as a National Geographic Explorer. This conversation takes us from when he bravely chose geology without f...

Send us Fan Mail 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 dared to reimagine their worlds and their futures. The summit challenged participants to develop solutions addressing real community problems through...

Send us Fan Mail 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 backbone of health research across the continent. Born in Nigeria, Dr Okechi is currently a lecturer and biostatistician at the University of Witwa...

Send us Fan Mail 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-powered, solar-powered device that diagnoses Malaria and dispenses medicine. We also talk about Ghana's Yamachi Biotech and their creation of Afri...

Send us Fan Mail 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. From immunology and plant science to scholarly communication and mentorship platforms, these podcasters share their journeys of creating digital spaces whe...

Send us Fan Mail 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 valuable renewable energy resources. Support the show Follow the show on: Twitter: @Rootofscipod Instagram: @Rootofscipod YouTube: The Root Of Th...

Send us Fan Mail 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 work at the Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN). She explains how her work at FANRPAN is transforming food systems acros...

Send us Fan Mail 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 and Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand, about groundbreaking research that could transform TB prevention. As a key figure in the...

Send us Fan Mail 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 leads the Southern Africa Food Lab at Stellenbosch University, offers profound insights into this critical issue. He talks about the interconnectedn...

Send us Fan Mail 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 research. Dr. Takalana also highlights the society's work in building a strong astronomical community across Africa since its revival...

Send us Fan Mail 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.  Our commitment is to spark even bigger conversations, thanks to  our incredible team and the support from our listeners, guests, and partn...

Send us Fan Mail 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 TCC Africa.  As we discuss the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach and the growing demand for digital accessibility, Joy and I tackl...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the secrets to eradicating malaria by 2030. They discuss the innovative approaches and daunting challenges in the ongoing battle against mala...

Send us Fan Mail 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 decarbonization in the steel industry is setting a new standard for green technology. Discover how Dorcas transitioned from a promising career at Deloitte t...

Send us Fan Mail 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 like digital identity and payment systems, is reshaping access to health services for governments, businesses, and individuals.  Support the show Follow...

Send us Fan Mail 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 on AIDS (UNAIDS).  In this episode, we dive into the sociocultural dynamics that influence sexual health practices and policies, the latest...