Interview with Nicholas Outa of Maseno University, Kenya
Nicholas Outa, from Maseno University, Kenya, is an aquatic researcher working towards filling research gaps in Freshwater Aquatic Systems, Fish Ecology and Aquaculture.
This interview explores Mr. Nicholas Outa’s research work, experience and his efforts.
Nicholas is a 35 year old Kenyan and a doctoral student in the field of Fisheries and Aquaculture at Maseno University, Kenya. He holds a Masters of Science degree (MSc) in Limnology and Wetland Management from UNESCO-IHE, Netherlands and BOKU University, Vienna; and a BSc in Applied Aquatic Science from Egerton University, Kenya. He is also a trainer in Scientific Writing and Communication at the Training Centre in Communication (TCC-Africa) and a mentor for early career researchers. Outa’s interests include research on aquaculture technologies, fish ecology as well as research communication and publishing, community service and teaching.
Mr. Outa inducing Labeo victorianus (Ningu) with the Ovaprim hormone for breeding experiments
How did you learn about AfricArXiv?
I was introduced to AfricArXiv through the Training Centre in Communication (TCC-Africa)
Have you previously shared results on other preprint or institutional repositories? both field and desk
Waithaka, E., Yongo, E., & Outa, N. O., Mr. (2020, February 29). Population biology of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Naivasha, Kenya. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/p72h8
OTIENO, D., Hilda, N., Chrispine, N., Odoli, C., Aura, C., & Outa, N. O., Mr. (2019, December 10). Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) infestation, interactions with nutrients, aquatic biota and a control weevil in Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya. https://doi.org/10.31730/osf.io/r67yj
Outa, N. O., Mr, Mungai, D., & Keyombe, J. L. A. (2019, October 9). The impacts of introduced species on lake ecosystems: A case of Lakes Victoria and Naivasha, Kenya. https://doi.org/10.31730/osf.io/b5nyt
Mungai, D., Outa, N. O., Mr, Obama, P., Ondemo, F., & Ogello, E. (2019, September 20). The status of research on Lake Victoria fisheries: Historical and current data on fisheries and the lake environment. https://doi.org/10.31730/osf.io/6gr7d
Outa, N. O., Mr, Yongo, E., Keyombe, J., & David, N. (2019, September 17). A review on the status of some major fish species in Lake Victoria. https://doi.org/10.31730/osf.io/je4cy
How is your research relevant to the African context?
My research is conducted in Kenya, mainly in and around Lake Victoria and other lakes including Lake Naivasha.
What question or challenge were you setting out to address when you started this work and what are the discoveries that have led you to your current results?
There are many unanswered questions about most aquatic ecosystems in Africa and the fish species therein. It is on this premise that I have been conducting both field and desk research to find answers to these questions. Research gaps exist in several areas since most research focuses on technical methodologies that are sometimes beyond the reach or understanding of early career researchers and scholars. I therefore wanted to conduct basic research to facilitate better understanding of fisheries and aquaculture by young university and college students in Africa.
How do you envision research communication in Africa?
Preprints and Africa-based high impact journals are the future for African Research Communication. Most journals are based in other continents outside Africa, making their focus not to be primarily on the African continent. This therefore calls for repositories like AfricArXiv that allows African researchers to also publish their research output, including, in local languages through PubPub, making research more accessible and easier to understand and apply in the African context.
Open Access must be championed for and should happen now at least for the African continent.
Nicholas Outa
Do you have any thoughts or questions for Mr. Outa? You can leave them in the comment box below.
Editors: Johanssen Obanda
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