Alumnus testimonial

Gloriana - Communication officer at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

‘’Translating the scientific findings into simpler language that is understood by stakeholders, who are not from the agricultural research field, is what inspires me in my current position.’’

After Gloriana graduated from her master’s Communication, Health and Life Sciences she got an important position in supporting Tanzania for a more developed agricultural life. Everything she learned about communication at the Wageningen University & Research she uses in building bridges with local stakeholders; truly inspiring!

Science communication is a challenge, but having an opportunity to build bridges among different stakeholders gives me much satisfaction and contributes to solving the world’s most stubborn challenges.

Could you tell us more about your work experience after your master’s?

"I am a Communication officer at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) under the African Cassava Whitefly Control for Sustainable Food Security in a Sub-Saharan Africa project. The project works to release and promote the cassava whitefly management technologies, including whitefly-resilient cassava varieties. Along that the projects gives also training of smallholder farmers and extension officers on managing the Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and whitefly as a vector. My daily activities are rainbow filled with diverse tasks related to project communication needs; from interpreting and analysing research findings and data. And communicating this in a simplified farmer-friendly language, to documentation of project activities and production of various communication materials for distribution.’’

 

How did studying at Wageningen University & Research prepare you for your career?

"I must say that all the courses I took are applicable to what I currently do; facilitation, negotiation, interdisciplinary approaches, advanced communication, introduction to global change, organic agriculture and others. I have come to realise that all the courses complement each other when solving an issue. For instance, in a meeting, I can use facilitation knowledge at one point but, to find the link, I need to understand from where the other party is coming from in order have an agreement. I still use the mind-mapping approach whenever I brainstorm, and of course the busy university timetables have taught me to be flexible and manage work under pressure as efficiently as possible. Reading research articles familiarised me with research language and comprehension.’’

 

What inspires you the most in your current job?

"Translating the scientific findings/insight into simpler language that is understood by stakeholders who are not from the agricultural research field is what inspires me in my current position. Science communication is a challenge, but having an opportunity to build bridges among different stakeholders gives me much satisfaction and contributes to solving the world’s most stubborn challenges.’’

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