Inspiring a new generation of media practitioners who make science more accessible and impactful
About the Fellowship
When media practitioners understand the scientific process, they can empower the public to question information and deal with the uncertainty inherent in science. Science journalists are the ultimate weapon against misinformation and science mistrust.
It is only when the public and policymakers are confident in science Science can only be a force of economic development and social progress when the public and policymakers are confident in science. Policymakers can only demonstrate their support for science, technology, and innovation by putting in place policies that foster research and development in both public and private enterprises.
The Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences Mass Media Fellowship offers seven undergraduate students studying journalism an opportunity to:
- Explore the intersection between science and policy.
- Master the art of communicating complex scientific information to the public.
- Learn under top young scientists and science journalists.
Program
Fellows are required to complete a journalistic project that leverages the scientific expertise offered by the Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences members. The project can be a newspaper article, radio or TV interview, a documentary, or anything beyond the confines of traditional reporting. The ZIMYAS Mass Media Fellows will offer an oral presentation at the end of the program. Fellows will be issued a certificate of competency at the end of the program.
Activities
Seminars: Monthly meetings will be held in person or virtually where fellows meet science journalists and young scientists.
Workshops: Workshops will be held on science, society and policy, navigating a career as a science journalist, and science journalism in the 21st Century.
Mentorship: Fellows will be paired with a science journalist and a Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences member as mentors.
Science visit: Fellows will visit industries (for example, chemical processing plants, farms, or mines) and national research centers to learn about the global challenges.
Pitch a story: Fellows will participate in a story pitching event for their final journalistic project, adjudicated by editors from local newspapers.
Award
Fellows will receive tuition for one semester (US$160 in the 2021/22 academic calendar) paid directly to the university.* Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences will cover food and travel expenses for field trips. No health care or stipend for living expenses will be provided.
Partnerships
The inaugural Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences Mass Media Fellowships is in partnership with the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe. The program will expand to other universities across Zimbabwe in the future.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be upper-level undergraduate students enrolled in journalism or a closely related program in Zimbabwe
- Applicants must be Zimbabwean citizens.
- Successful applicants are required to attend an orientation meeting held at a local university.
- Applicants are required to prepare a program plan under the guidance of a mentor.
- Applicants are required to submit monthly progress reports.
- Applicants are required to prepare a world-class journalistic project during the program. They are required to present it orally at the end of the program.
Application process
Applications for the 6-month program are submitted from March 1 to May 31 each year. Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences members of the Science Communication and Advising Working Group will review the applications. Ten recipients of the Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences Mass Media Fellowship will be announced in July.
Applications for the 2021 Fellowship are currently closed.
*The tuition stipend is subject to the availability of funds. We are currently seeking partners to contribute to the ZIMYAS Mass Media Fellows Program. All contributions will go towards the tuition and resources for the fellows.
Welcome the ZIMYAS Mass Media Fellows 2021
Congratulations to the inaugural ZIMYAS Mass Media Fellows. The 2021 Fellows are all from the National University of Science and Technology. The program is expanding to other universities in 2022.
Melody Chaibva
Givemore Manyenga
Ruramai Mutimusakwa
Jesse Ncube
Lubalethu Ndlovu
Nokuphila Nkala
Brenda Zinyuke
The Team
Margaret Siyawamwaya, Program Director
Margaret Siyawamwaya is a Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe where she studies pharmaceutical innovation and the implementation of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques. She is the Secretary-General of Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences and the Leader of the Science Communication Working Group.
margaret.siya@gmail.com | +263 77 494 0952
Edmond Sanganyado, Program Associate Director
Edmond Sanganyado is an Associate Professor at Shantou University in China where he investigates the impact of human activities on marine environments. He is the current president of Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences and the leader of the Research Excellence Initiative. Edmond is also a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Sciences, UK.
edmond@zimbabweyas.org | +86 150 1727 0075
Nkosana Dube, Program Advisor
Nkosana Dube is a Lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology where he investigates issues on young people and civic participation. He is a new media enthusiast with a strong interest in information and communication technologies that impact the journalism fraternity and corporate communication industry.
nkosana.dube@nust.ac.zw | +263 77 239 9489
Munyaradzi Makoni, Program Advisor
Munyaradzi is a freelance journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. He covers agriculture, climate change, environment, health, higher education, sustainable development, and science in general. His work has appeared in Hakai magazine, Nature, Physics World, Science, SciDev.net, The Lancet, The Scientist, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and University World News.
makoni.munya@gmail.com | +27 78 174 0663
The goal of science is to bring a change in our knowledge of fundamentals that can improve society. Our key objective at ZIMYAS is to faciltate cutting edge research that can transform the quality of life among Zimbabweans.
Development the scientific capacity of the researcher is pivotal in fostering research excellence and good scientific practices. The key aim of ZIMYAS is to improve the research environments for scientists in Zimbabwean research institutions.
The SDGs can be attained through promotion of STEM in disadvantaged populations. The goal of ZIMYAS is to facilitate the attainment of SDGs through science education in communities. ZIMYAS conducts outreach meetings on science education.