Women Make Science: From the Lab to Lake Victoria
In Kenya, a biological scientist works with local women to tackle climate issues and restore Lake Victoria’s ecosystem.
In the Kenyan port city of Kisumu, biological scientist Sheila Kaka Ochugboju tackles the biggest challenge of our era: climate change.
It is a wonderful time for me because I have seen the other side of what I studied and imagined in the laboratory, and what is even more exciting is that I'm seeing it applied and researched more in Africa.
In Kenya, one of Ochugboju’s main concerns is the shrinking Lake Victoria, which also borders Tanzania and Uganda. Rich in resources, the lake is the lifeblood of surrounding communities, but a quickly changing environment is forcing people to adapt to new ways of harvesting food and running businesses.
To tackle these issues head-on, Ochugboju works with local women, who she says are most tied to the land and bear the brunt of the crisis.
She and a team of experts also founded the Network of African Women Environmentalists, which aims to address climate issues on all levels.
And as Ochugboju and local women learn more about the area’s delicate ecosystem, communities find new ways to support themselves while restoring the nature that surrounds them.