By Lukhona Mnguni, Currently studying for an MSc in Africa & International Development
I have just returned from a work-based placement with the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in in Nairobi, Kenya.
ACTS is one of Africa’s leading organisations in the fields of science, technology and innovation research.
This rare opportunity afforded me two months to immerse myself with the organisation, its work, my research and the city of Nairobi and its people.
This was my first trip to Kenya and only my second visit to East Africa, a region that is of ancestral importance to my heritage and the Nguni people of South Africa.
My time with the ACTS exposed me to more than just research.
They place a strong emphasis on the environment and focus on climate change and the responsible use of natural resources.
I also had the privilege of attending the launch of the new Africa Sustainability Hub, which will focus on solutions to climate change and the African environment and bring together a network of researchers from ACTS, African Technology Policy Studies Network and the Stockholm Environment Institute in Nairobi.
My time in Nairobi opened my eyes to the many cultural and environmental differences between Kenya and my own home in South Africa.
The trip would not have been possible without the work-based placement funding provided by the University of Edinburgh.
Experiences like this are invaluable to students like myself who otherwise would not have these opportunities, both in terms of social experience and the development of our research.