Mpala November 2023 Newsletter

November 2023 | Issue #12

In this month's issue:

Letter from the Executive Director
Featured Activity: Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship Program

Mpala staff and members of the Lekiji community posing in front of the clinic after planting trees.

Dear Mpala Community,

As we head into the holiday season, we remain actively engaged in our research and outreach. Our ongoing initiatives include diverse campaigns such as the End of Year Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship Program and the Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign (LRVC). We are excited about the work we have done in 2023 and look forward to continuing this work going forward.

Biannual Board Meeting in Panama: Executive Director Dr. Winnie Kiiru and COO Nelly Palmeris traveled to Panama for the biannual board meeting hosted by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Student Engagement: Mpala takes pride in its capacity to host student groups and researchers from universities and institutions worldwide. In November, Mpala has hosted people from institutions such as the University of Glasgow, London Zoo, University of Sweden, and St Lawrence University.

Tree Planting Activity in Lekiji: Mpala participated in a tree planting event at Lekiji Primary School, health clinic, and church on November 13, 2023. The event aligned with Kenya's National Tree Growing Day. The overarching goal is to cultivate and nurture 15 billion trees by 2032, with the aim of restoring and conserving 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes and ecosystems. Together, Mpala and Lekiji planted 100 indigenous trees.

Sports: On November 4, 2023, the Mpala football season kicked off with the Mpala team competing against the Kenya Defense Forces team at Mpala. The team secured a victory with a score of 4-2.

Security: We organized an in-house training session on Earth Ranger for both rangers and herders. This tool enables real-time monitoring of wildlife and their natural habitats. Additionally, we successfully distributed 17 Earth Ranger phones to all outposts and livestock bomas, enhancing our ability to maintain patrols and monitor wildlife.

Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign: The 2023 LRVC is currently underway, and we extend our congratulations to Dr. James Ngatia, the Samburu-Laikipia Wild Dog Project Veterinarian. Dr. Ngatia has been honored with the Vaccination Championship Award by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control on World Rabies Day for 2023!

Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship: We would like to take this opportunity to introduce the two 2023 Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship recipients: Samuel Kiuna and Chrispin Odhiambo. This inaugural scholarship has enabled these two students to pursue their graduate degrees without the financial constraint. Below you will find more information about this program and its impact.

Starting on the 28th November, 2023, we will start fundraising for next year’s scholarships, so stay tuned to see how you can make a difference for future graduate students!

Warm regards,

Dr. Winnie Kiiru, Executive Director

MPALA GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship Program is a transformative initiative that empowers African students to pursue higher education and conduct cutting-edge research at Mpala. Our inaugural scholarship program is built on a foundation of educational empowerment, research innovation, and conservation stewardship. The Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship Program offers full scholarships to recent, outstanding university graduates in Kenya. These scholarships cover tuition, stipends, room and board at Mpala, and fieldwork costs, providing students with the resources they need to excel in their academic and research endeavours.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Mpala solicited nominations from faculty members at five Kenyan universities.
Nominees attended a weeklong symposium at Mpala pictured above.
The symposium included workshops on how to design a research project, how to apply for scholarships, CV writing and interview preparation.
Nominees then submitted written applications and participated in oral interviews.
Samuel Kiuna and Chrispin Odhiambo were selected as the inaugural scholarship recipients.

INTRODUCING THE INAUGURAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Samuel Kiuna grew up in Nyahururu, Kenya. He completed his undergraduate studies at Karatina University where he studied Natural Resource Management with a focus on Wildlife Management. Through the Mpala scholarship he has just begun his MSc at Karatina University. His proposed research project is entitled, “Optimizing rangeland restoration through movable cattle corrals." Sam's study will look at how livestock management practices can maximize rangeland productivity, biodiversity, and wildlife conservation.

"I am deeply grateful for this scholarship. It is not just a financial award; it's a token of opportunity, personal growth, and a hope for a more promising future, especially by being at Mpala, because Mpala offers a great opportunity to meet and interact with researchers from all over the world. It provides a space to receive mentorship, and an opportunity to engage in collaborative research. It is my responsibility to use this opportunity to its fullest, both for my benefit and the betterment of the world around me."

~ Sam

Chrispin Odhiambo grew up in Homa Bay, Kenya. He completed his undergraduate degree at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Environmental Science and will soon begin his MSc at the same university. His proposed research project is entitled, "Understanding the influence of precipitation patterns on vegetation cover at Mpala Research Centre, Kenya." Chrispin's project promises to provide critical insights into how climate change affects vegetation dynamics, ultimately contributing to our understanding of ecosystem resilience.

"Receiving the Mpala Graduate Student Scholarship means more to me than words can express. It signifies an incredible opportunity for personal and academic growth. This scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion for wildlife conservation and ecology without the financial constraints that often hinder such pursuits. It means the chance to engage in impactful research, gain hands-on experience, and contribute to the broader mission of conserving our planet's biodiversity. It is not just financial support; it's a life-changing opportunity to make a real difference in the world of conservation, and I am profoundly grateful for the doors it opens and the potential it represents."

~ Chrispin

THE FUTURE OF THE MPALA GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

Given the immense need to provide financial support to African students hoping to pursue graduate degrees with field work requirements, we are planning to raise funds in 2023 to support more scholars. This is part of a long-term plan to endow a fund specifically for African graduate students interested in completing their advanced degrees and field work at Mpala.

We will soon be sharing more information about the impact of the scholarship on Sam and Chrispin along with why students like them need your support.

Mpala Research Centre supports interdisciplinary research on the most pressing issues of our time, particularly those related to the environment, sustainability, and human development. Every donation contributes to strengthening research at Mpala and building the next generation of African scientists and scholars!

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