Who am I?

Presenting the case for science centres in Malawi.

I am Muza Gondwe, a passionate somewhat creative science communicator in training from Malawi studying in Australia who completed a fellowship in Cambridge as a science engagement tourist.

My PhD project  in science communication at the University of Western Australia is looking at science and culture in Indigenous and multicultural school groups in Malawi and Australia. Investigating the connections make between science and culture through student production of digital stories (short personal narrative films).

The term science engagement tourism is the phrase I had coined for my six month trip to Cambridge on a fellowship at the Centre of African Studies on the Public Understanding of Science in Africa. I visited many events, activities, institutions, centers, projects ( Millenium Maths, Naked Scientists, Wellcome Collections, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, Science Museum) involved in promoting science with the idea of adapting some of them for Malawi, where most people consider science something found only in secondary school textbooks. I documented in print, exhibition and film African Science Heroes, Afrrican scientists who have made considerable contributions to science. In this way I hope to generate  a sense of pride in our African science accomplishments and promote public engagement with science. Join me on my science exploration!

Me at Mary Mount in Malawi, encouraging girls to pursue careers in science.