Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs Professor Anne Muigai, recently held an interview with Young Scientists Kenya (YSK). The focus of the interview was on Prof Muigai’s experience as the Chief Judge for YSK National Exhibition since 2018 with a reflection on the journey the exhibition has undergone over the years.

The interview was run by Safaricom PLC who have been partners and sponsors of YSK since its inception, providing financial and in-kind support, including gifts during prize-giving ceremonies.
In her response to a question during the interview, Prof Muigai mentioned that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Government of Ireland, through its Embassy in Kenya, launched the YSK in 2018, with the participation of 10 Counties in Kenya. The initiative has since spread to all parts of the country, with the participation of all 47 Counties. Since the beginning, the quality of projects has improved tremendously due to the feedback mechanism that was incorporated to ensure that judges’ comments always found their way to the students and their teachers.

Commenting on what makes winning projects, Prof Muigai said that judges are always attracted by simple, yet innovative ideas that speak to solving challenges in the community. She mentioned that over the years the students produced progressively innovative and high-quality projects.

In a response on the impact of her participation in the programme, Prof Muigai said she hoped that she would help attract the youth of Kenya to remain in science, engineering mathematics and social sciences because this would ensure that Kenya had enough critical thinkers and innovators who would be able to drive the economy and provide solutions to present and future challenges. She added that NDU-K would continue to support YSK through the provision of judges and volunteers to shape and mentor young innovators.

Prof Muigai ended the interview by thanking all sponsors of YSK who have provided judges, financial and in-kind sponsorship that has enabled the project to excel, through the years.