The Root Of The Science Podcast

Epizódy

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  EP 172: How A Soil Scientist Builds Practical Agri Tech For Real Farms 21.09.2026 27min

  Send us Fan Mail We speak with soil scientist and entrepreneur Palesa Mutaung about building agri-tech that works because it starts with real farms, real buyers and the full agricultural value chain. We trace her journey from geology to hands-on deliveries, then into Bread Africa’s research-driven tools that help farmers make better decisions and stay audit-ready. In this episode we discuss: • moving from geology into environmental and agricultural soil science • learn...
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  EP 171: New Malaria Drugs are Coming, but is Africa Ready? 24.08.2026 32min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Root of the Science Podcast, Dr Anne Chisa talks to a Nigerian malaria policy researcher Michael Audu to unpack what it will take for next-generation antimalarials to reach the people who need them. They discuss drug resistance, Ganaplacide-Lumefantrine, Nigeria’s malaria burden and Michael’s Africa Readiness Index (ARI) in rolling out new malaria treatments. Listen to the full conversation! Support the show Follow the show on: Twitter: @Rootofscipod ...
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  EP 170: The Stories That Moved Us: Root of Science in 2026 02.03.2026 34min

  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, and science that connects with everyday life. Health shaped much of the year. We balance that w...
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  EP 169: Viloshnee Singh, A Chemistry Lab In A Box For African Students 24.11.2025 28min

  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 many learners experience science only in textbooks, and what it takes to bring real experimen...
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  EP 168: Michael Ofire, Neglected No More: African Solutions for NTDs 17.11.2025 34min

  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 shares practical wins, funding ideas, and a hopeful path to 2030 through African-led r...
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  EP 167: Albert Mutangiri, Can Tech Save the Bees That Feed the World? 22.10.2025 31min

  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 strengthen food security. Albert shares how his passion for beekeeping led to creating a globally u...
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  EP 166: Dr Karl Daniel, Telemedicine as a New Approach to Healthcare Access in Kenya 29.09.2025 40min

  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 Health’s hybrid model is making healthcare accessible through in-person care, pharmacies, mobile...
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  EP 165: Maboang Matlou, The Miracle Tree: Transforming Agriculture with Moringa 15.09.2025 30min

  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 market strategy, planting, and maintaining consistency. Support the show Follow the show on: Tw...
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  EP 164: Dr. Keabetswe Ncube, Achieving Sustainability in Agriculture through Genetics 25.08.2025 58min

  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 childhood in Pella Village, bottle-feeding orphaned goats to founding her own agricul...
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  EP 163: How Aid Cuts Affect Patients, Research and Jobs in Africa 29.07.2025 43min

  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. Stepping into the aftermath of these cuts, we explore the human cost behind the headlines,...
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  EP 162: Emmanuel Valentine, Making High-Tech Farming like Hydroponics Affordable for All 14.07.2025 35min

  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 cyclone nutrient economy repurposes treated wastewater for hydroponic farming, to make this farming system aff...
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  EP 161: Dr. Tebogo Makhubela, From Soweto to National Geographic, Tracing Human Origins 30.06.2025 42min

  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 financial backing despite pressure to pursue more conventional careers, to his work dating f...
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  EP 160: Future Women Innovators, meet the Dream STEM Technovation Summit Winners 16.06.2025 30min

  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 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The result was innovations t...
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  EP 158: Dr Okechinyere Achilonu, Biostatistics as the Backbone of Health Research in Africa 02.06.2025 38min

  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 Witwatersrand in South Africa. She also shares the impact of the Sub-Saharan Africa Advanced Consorti...
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  May Root of Science News Roundup 19.05.2025 15min

  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 Africa's largest cancer genomic database. Our conservation segment unveils a wildlife trafficking c...
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  EP 158: The Role of African Podcasters in Science Communication 13.05.2025 53min

  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 where authentic African scientific voices can thrive. Support the show Follow the show on...
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  EP 157: Bongiwe Mtshali, Turning Invasive Plant Species into Renewable Energy 28.04.2025 33min

  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 The Science Podcast Facebook: The Root of The Science Podcast LinkedIn: The Root Of The Science...
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  EP 156: Dr. Rachel Mkandawire, the Woman Agricultural Scientist Reshaping Policy in Africa 07.04.2025 37min

  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 across Southern Africa through participatory farmer research and evidence-based policy making. ...
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  EP 155: Prof Lee Fairlie, M72 Vaccine Trial in South Africa: A New Era in TB Treatment 24.03.2025 34min

  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 M72 trial, she discusses the M72 trial, its significance in the fight against TB and the pot...
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  EP 154: Prof Kennedy Dzama, Rethinking Food Systems to Combat Hunger in Southern Africa 17.03.2025 30min

  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 interconnectedness of climate change and food security, the establishment of the Southern Africa Food Lab and h...