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Our Strategy
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This is an inspirational story of Dr. Jacqueline Uku, a Senior Research Officer at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. She is also the current president of WIOMSA and serves on the Executive Committee of the Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research (SCOR).

She is a recipient of the 2019 NK Panniker Award.

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You’re full names?

Jacqueline Nduku Wambua Uku

Institutions of affiliation?

She is a Senior Research Officer at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute where she has served for 26 years. She is currently, President of WIOMSA and also serve on the Executive Committee of the Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research (SCOR).

Areas of specialization/ expertise?

Dr.  Jacqueline area of specialization is plant physiology with emphasis on seagrasses.

Challenges and opportunities in her field of expertise?

Although seagrasses occupy a large proportion of our coastal lagoons they are the least studied and understood ecosystems in the region. The challenge here is that most young scientists prefer to work on coral reef and mangrove research as there is a bigger scientific community around these ecosystems.

Seagrass science offers many opportunities for engagement as there is so much that we still do not know. There are opportunities both for science and community engagement. As they are located in nearshore lagoons, it is easy to set up citizen science programmes that involve communities in order to drive an awareness of this critical ecosystem.

In the realm of scientific exploration, there are opportunities to study the large and small animals found in this ecosystem (meiofauna and macrofauna). Studies on the faunal community associations in these ecosystems are few. The fisheries associated with seagrass beds still remains understudied in most countries of the region. Although, they are found underwater, seagrasses flower just like plants on land, there is an opportunity to study their reproductive regimes.

Aspects of blue carbon are also important as well as studies on restoration practices for degraded seagrass beds. Studies on photosynthetic regimes and their physiological cycles in the era of climate change also present another opportunity. One thing we also need to do is to map our seagrass beds and to use remote sensing tools to map change over time.

I see opportunities not only for science based studies but also for artists and social scientists. Historically, communities have engaged with seagrasses in many ways and there is an opportunity to study these historical relationships and compare them to the current relationships and to document medicinal and traditional uses. There is an opportunity for artists to write stories of the organisms that are found in these beds such as dugongs and turtles.  These are just a few opportunities and I believe that there are many more that will open up if we just took a little time to engage in this important ecosystem.

I look forward to the day when we have a strong community of seagrass experts in the region.

Her most proud accomplishments in her career?

I am proud of my contribution towards building capacity of many to engage in marine and coastal studies as well as seagrass studies. I have been able to do this through the contributions of WIOMSA as well as in my own work as I managed several projects in Kenya. In Kenya, through my efforts in the Kenya Coastal Development Project, we were able to support over 200 students in various short term courses, internships, certificate courses, diploma and bachelor level training as well as postgraduate courses at Masters Level. I am also proud of the infrastructure projects that provided enhanced office spaces to several institutions including my own institution, KMFRI.

Awards given/ received in her life?

I am a recipient of the 2019 NK Panniker Award for capacity building from IOC-UNESCO. I believe that this reflects the work I have contributed to in growing expertise and raising up the next generation of ocean scientists.

Her quote to live by?

“Do things that make your heart sing” by Marianne Williamson 

 Inspiration messages/advice to early-career scientists?

Start with a vision for your life’s work that resonates with the things that you are passionate about. Remember that Rome was not built in a single day – progress takes time and dedicated effort so be ready to bless yourself with the gift of time and grow your patience. Do not always look at the bottom line (money) but look for opportunities that enable you to grow your expertise. In my career, I have done the most with opportunities that paid me the least. Do not let fear stop you but grow in courage by exposing yourself to things that require you explore areas that require great courage. Find your voice and lend it to a cause that you are passionate about – then you will find that you have something valuable to say and a contribution to make.

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Macquarie University (MQU) and Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) https://www.wiomsa.org partnership, with support from Macquarie University DVC is currently seeking a suitably qualified Postdoctoral Research Fellow. This position is tailored towards an enterprising Postdoctoral Researcher interested in engaging in interdisciplinary research.

Download the full announcement.

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STANDARD NEWSPAPER 10 MARCH 2019: Mombasa County has launched a three year Sh.33 million research project to make it a Smart Sustainable city.

The project will help solve issues of derailing of the planning process, increase in population, pollution, the mushrooming of informal settlements as well as waste management.

Wiomsa official, Dr. Valentine Ochanda explained how the organisation’s program, Cities and Coasts is looking at how to make cities sustainable and reduce pollution in marine environments.

Speaking during the official unveiling of the programme in Mombasa, the County Deputy Governor, Dr. William Kingi said the Miji Bora project aims to build the institutional capacity of the county government for future transitioning into a Smart and Sustainable city.

He said the County government required to make research-based decisions reflecting on the dynamics that may affect our service delivery.

READ FULL ARTICLE

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We hope you will like the website as much as we do!

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Several other related decisions were adopted under ‘Decision CP.9/3. Management of marine litter and municipal wastewater in the Western Indian Ocean’ including on the development of a regional strategy or action plan or both on the management of marine litter and microplastic and capacity-building programmes on marine litter and microplastics, including microbeads, for a harmonized approach to data generation, monitoring and reporting; conducting outreach and public awareness activities on the impact of municipal waste and marine litter on marine species and their habitats; and encouraging countries to discourage plastic microbeads, take measures within their national capacities to consider phasing out their use in the region and promote the exchange of expertise, best practice and lessons learned.

In response to the ‘Decision CP.9/3. Management of marine litter and municipal wastewater in the Western Indian Ocean’, especially in respect to establishing a marine litter regional technical working group, WIOMSA and the Nairobi Convention Secretariat in collaboration with other partners working on marine litter and microplastics, is setting up a Group of Experts on Marine Litters and Microplastics. The main objective of the Group is provide a forum for sharing and exchange of information; providing policy guidance and advice to the Nairobi Convention and other regional frameworks; and synthesizing information on the topic from different sources and produce peer-reviewed publications and other products. The Group’s work is planned to be completed in three years or less.

As part of the implementation of this initiative, the Nairobi Convention in collaboration with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) is calling for expressions of interest from regional experts working on different aspects of marine litter and microplastics, interested in being considered for the Group’s membership.

Anyone interested in being a member is requested to submit a copy of their CV (maximum 2 pages highlighting their work in marine litter and microplastics) by email to secretary@wiomsa.org, on or before 31 March 2019.

For more information, please find the terms of references of the Group.

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