In this episode of Echoes of Evidence, hosts Lillian Mutengu and Dr. Evelyn Gitau sit down with Prof. Omu Anzala, founder and first director of the KAVI Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Nairobi, to unpack the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding vaccine research and development. The conversation explores why certain misconceptions persist, how misinformation takes hold, and what it takes to separate fact from narrative in an age where falsehoods spread faster than ever. Prof. Anzala also reflects on how African communities can navigate these gray zones, how scientists respond when disagreements arise, and the strategies needed to build clarity and trust in science.

In this nascent episode, we reflect on the power of science and the legacy of colonialism in the knowledge ecosystem, and connect the modern-day scientific pursuits to the classic and traditional African scientific culture.

Joining us in this discussion is Dr Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, the Africa Managing Director at Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. 

The show is hosted by Lillian Mutengu and Dr Evelyn Gitau from the Science for Africa Foundation. For more information about us and our work, please visit our website: https://scienceforafrica.foundation/

#Africanscience #science #Podcast #NewPodcast #SciencePodcast #ScienceForAfrica #TrustInScience #GlobalHealth #ScienceMatters #WanjiruKamauRutenberg #AfricanWomenInScience #WomenInSTEM #ThoughtLeadership

Welcome to Echoes of Evidence — a podcast by the Science for Africa Foundation. This podcast series shines a spotlight on health, climate, agricultural research, as well as topical and emerging issues shaping science and innovation on the continent and beyond. In each episode, we explore how African scientists are tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges—from climate resilience and public health to renewable energy and AI innovation.  
 
We’ll hear directly from the scientists leading this charge—innovators who are developing homegrown solutions, driving policy, and pushing the frontiers of knowledge in uniquely African contexts. Whether it’s epidemiologists in Ghana, climate scientists in Kenya, or bioengineers in South Africa, their stories will reveal the power of African science to transform lives, inform global discourse, and inspire the next generation.