Mawazo builds platforms to help scientists communicate on the issues of our time. To unpack what the climate change looks like for the African continent we hosted a live quiz night that put local celebrities to the test against experts. With three rounds of trivia questions and only one winner, our quiz night, 'It's Getting Hot in Here' featured marine scientist Dr. Fiona Moejes (Mawazo CEO) and media personalities, Wanjira Longauer and Georgie Ndirangu.

The research to commercialisation pipeline is plagued with a lot of unknowns and many researchers don’t know where to start when thinking about how to attract funding for their ideas. In this episode, we replay a taped discussion with industry professionals, where we demystify the commercialisation pipeline for researchers. We also talk about gender and the investment landscape.

Dr. Jacqueline Kariithi is a trailblazing environmental scientist working in the Mt. Elgon region of Kenya, which makes up part of the country’s bread basket. Although the region supplies a large share of the nation's maize crop, which is critical to national food security, many people who live in the area remain food insecure. Through El- Koony center, where Dr. Kariithi is CEO, she is using scientific methods to explore techniques that can help improve food security and resilience to climate change for the Mt. Elgon ecosystem.

What might the future of education look like for Africa? In this episode, we share a discussion with Julia Jenjezwa, a Zimbabwean product designer and educator, and Dr. Wangui Kimari, a Kenyan urban scholar. Both Julia and Wangui use human-centered research practices to work within communities in Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal, and elsewhere. In this episode, they share how applying co-visioning and co-design in their work has helped them become better scientists and educators. How can these approaches shape how we “do” higher education on the continent?

How are African ideas being used to build the future of the African continent? Season 5 of the Nairobi Ideas Podcast returns September 15th under a brand new theme; 'African Futures'. Don't miss our new season as we talk to experts whose work explores new pathways around; the future of education, the future of food, the future of African cities, the future of health, and approaches to climate change adaptation on the continent.

Our oceans are becoming "hot, sour, and breathless," says Dr. David Obura, a marine biologist supporting coral reef research and conservation in Africa. In this episode, we explore how oceans are changing as a result of climate change and the challenges this poses for African island-nations whose statehood is threatened by rising sea levels. We are joined by Dr. David Obura and Angelique Pouponneau, a Legal Expert in climate change, oceans and global commons, and a speaker on youth, Blue Economy, and Islanders' rights in the face of rising sea levels.

What is gender based violence and how is it impacted by Climate change? It is estimated that one in three women will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. During displacement and times of crisis which may be caused by wars, climate change and other occurrences, the threat of gender based violence significantly increases for women and girls.

What is food security and why does it matter? Ensuring food security is one of the sustainable development goals - SDG 2 - which targets zero hunger. To help us understand the effects of climate change on food security in sub-Saharan Africa, we are joined by two experts, Yvonne Githiora and Maysoon Osman, who are both PhD candidates at the University of Nairobi.

In the fight against global warming, changes in individual behavior and system-level changes are being encouraged to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions necessary to limit global warming to “safe” levels. To better understand climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, we are joined by Dr. Gugulethu Tarakini, the Director of Research and Education for Sustainable Actions (RESA) in Zimbabwe and Judy Ndichu, a Climate Scientist and Researcher working on REDD+ Programme, a climate change mitigation framework.

Carbon produced by human activities is the largest contributor to global warming. The social cost of carbon is a measure of the economic harm from those impacts. In this context, carbon credit development and trading is considered to be a cost-effective solution for reducing emissions. In this episode, we are joined by Nasra Nandha, an ESG(Environmental Social and Governance), Real Estate and Environmental Senior Associate at Dentons Harrison Hamilton and Matthews who sheds light on the carbon credit markets for Africa.

Think you know Mawazo? As part of Mawazo @ 5, celebrating five years of the Mawazo Institute, we produced a special episode that digs into the Mawazo story. Featuring our co-founders, Dr. Rose M. Mutiso and Rachel Strohm, and our Acting CEO, Dr. Fiona Moejes, listen to find out how one night in Berkeley, California is now inspiring a new generation of female researchers and thought leaders in Africa.

In Season 4, we are focussing on discussions on the challenges and effects of climate change on the African continent. The global climate summit, COP26, wrapped up in Glasgow in November. To understand what is next for Africa after COP26, we are joined by Edna Kimenju, a Sustainability Consultant at Kenya Climate Innovation Centre.

**CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING** SGBV

For this episode, we are asking why half the world’s population is being affected disproportionately by a crisis that we are all facing. We talk to Ngina Judy, a Child Protection Officer at Dadaab Refugee Camp and Josephine Mwatibo, a Gender and Human Rights Expert about the impact of the pandemic on girls and women who are doubly marginalised; living as refugees and individuals with disabilities.

We’re taking a personal look at what it means to live through the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring stories from four scientists living in Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe whose work is at the frontlines of Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hear first hand, about their experiences, not just as researchers or scientists.

Across Africa, the pandemic has exposed fragile political freedoms and socio-economic rights and resulted in increased rates of violence by state and non-state actors, with a disproportionate impact on girls and women. To explore the impact of COVID-19 on human rights in Africa, we are joined by researchers from Kenya and Nigeria to discuss the state of human rights.

Early in the pandemic, the data community in Kenya had one question, “What is the data telling us?” We are joined by Yariwo Kitiyo, a geospatial consultant whose organization, Women in GIS, Kenya, was one of the partners working with Kenya’s Ministry of Health to answer this question.

The role of mass media in communicating the science of COVID-19, and in helping many of us understand our new reality cannot be underestimated. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Mercy Korir, a medical doctor and journalist at the Standard Media Group (Kenya).

Africa is carrying out its largest immunization campaign ever. Across the continent, governments are scrambling to find the COVID-19 vaccines they need to save vulnerable lives, achieve population health and re-open socio-economic activities, but they are facing…

In this season, we are talking to medical doctors, researchers, policy makers, journalists, thinkers, and other experts about how African countries are responding to the pandemic. Where are they finding hope? What are the challenges? What are their Big Ideas for getting us to the other side of this crisis? The season premieres on Thursday, September 30th.