Ubongo Campaign
The newly formed Ubongo Campaign committee with high school students during Ubongo Campaign 2024
Ubongo holds its campaign during the Brain Awareness Week (BAW). Being the Kenyan chapter of the BAW, Ubongo held a public lecture on the History of Neuroscience with Prof. Richard Brown (Dalhousie University) and Dr. Musembi at the University of Nairobi Kenyatta National Hospital campus on 13th December 2022.
In 2023, Ubongo held a high school student workshop on neuroscience, neurophysiology, and on neuroanatomy at the University of Nairobi Chiromo campus (right). The event also included a community outreach session, where the facilitators embarked on educating the students at various high schools in Kibera, Nairobi (left).
Ubongo facilitated the transport of two Ubongo representatives to the AMPATH Neuroscience Stakeholder workshop in Eldoret, Kenya, and made a presentation at the
Neuroscience and Brain Health: Innovations, Research, and Collaborations conference at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Brain Awareness Week Campaign; a joint
venture between IBRO, DABI (Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives), SfN (Society for Neuroscience), EDAB (European Dana Alliance for the Brain) and FENS (Federation of European Neuroscience
Associations), is a global campaign aimed at increasing public awareness on neuroscience and the progress and benefits of brain research.
The panel discussion on Navigating Careers in Neuroscience provided invaluable insights and guidance for individuals aspiring to pursue careers in this dynamic field. Featuring a diverse panel of experts, the event covered a wide range of topics including educational pathways, career trajectories, industry trends, and personal anecdotes.
In 2024, Ubongo facilitated the fireside chat with Dr Michael Magoha on Path to Neuroscience and provided guidance for individuals to venture and indulge in this dynamic field. With the expertise of Dr Michael Magoha, a consultant neurosurgeon, the event covered a variety of discussions where neuroscience could be benefited by all.
Dr. Philip Mwachaka, a consultant neurosurgeon and alumnus of the Ubongo Initiative (2005), who gave a brief description of the Ubongo Campaign, referring to it as the forum for students to learn about the brain. He also spoke about the functioning of some of the parts. The students were also shown some interesting photos and videos of the brain, and of his neurosurgical operations. He also spoke about careers in neuroscience, and delved into his life story and career as a researcher, anatomist, and renowned consultant neurosurgeon. He also talked about the importance of research on the human brain. He hinted on a few studies that had already been done on the human brain.
Dr. Mohammed Omar, a neurosurgery resident, spoke about careers in neuroscience, and delved into his life story and career as a physiologist, Ubongo volunteer, a medical doctor, and a neurosurgery resident. He also talked about the balance of life, and the importance of charting one’s career trajectory early. He spoke about the financial and social challenges in academia, and the temporal cost of pursuing a medical career. He summed up his discussion by giving the young students an impetus to impact society positively.
Mohamed Onyango introduced the team and gave a brief history of the organisation together with the aims and objectives of the campaign.
Felix Mburu took to the stage and engaged the audience with information on the basic structure and function of the brain. He emphasised on the different lobes of the brain and their basic functions.
Gisore Morara then discussed mental health and how it is an important part of all of our lives. He emphasized that health is not just physical but also mental, and that one's character and mind must all be in top condition in order to be deemed healthy. He discussed his personal mental health difficulties in high school and how he dealt with them.
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