We were joined in this session by Mofahloshi Chuene of Aphrike Research, who shared a thoughtful presentation on the importance of connecting African scholarly stakeholders. She highlighted the need for stronger collaboration, shared understanding, and inclusive networks to drive research and knowledge exchange across the continent.

Watch the recording

The slides are available at https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/1486

Session summary

The webinar session introduced Aphrike Research, a comprehensive database and networking portal dedicated to connecting African researchers, students, research managers, policy makers, and funders to promote intra-Africa collaboration and advance sustainable development goals (SDGs). The platform profiles African scientists and stakeholders, facilitating easy identification of collaborators, mentors, and funding opportunities while mapping roles within the research ecosystem. By mobilizing interaction among various actors, Aphrike Research aims to break down institutional silos, enhance the visibility and impact of African research, and foster a collaborative environment across the continent.

Aphrike Research leverages digital tools such as personalized researcher profiles and thematic working groups to stimulate interdisciplinary partnerships and co-creation of knowledge. It addresses challenges like limited infrastructure, funding constraints, and geographic isolation by offering a user-friendly and accessible platform tailored to African needs. During the session, success stories were shared, including cross-country collaborative projects and virtual mentorship programs that underscore the platform’s role in strengthening Africa’s research culture.

Participants were encouraged to use persistent identifiers like ORCID to ensure accurate digital identities and to engage with the platform to find collaborators, funding, and capacity-building events. Ultimately, the session highlighted Aphrike Research as a vital instrument for building a unified African scholarly network, fostering academic excellence, and contributing to continent-wide sustainable development through strategic partnerships and open knowledge sharing.

Speaker’s profile

Mofahloshi R.M. Chuene is a research scientist specializing in applied chemistry, with a focus on water treatment, nanotechnology, and sustainable energy solutions. She recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry at the University of Johannesburg, where her thesis investigated the development and application of sawdust nano-adsorbents for heavy metals remediation and their potential reuse as alternative fuel cell electrocatalysts. She is expected to have the degree conferred in August 2024.

Ms. Chuene embarked on her academic journey by obtaining a National Diploma in Biotechnology from the University of Johannesburg in 2007, followed by a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology in 2012, and a Master of Technology in Water Care (with distinction) from Tshwane University of Technology in 2019. Her master’s dissertation focused on the disinfection of wastewater using an integrated ozone-nanoparticle system.

With extensive experience in scientific research and laboratory facilitation, Ms. Chuene has held various roles in academic and research settings. At the University of Johannesburg, she served as a First-Year Tutor and Laboratory Demonstrator, preparing and supervising laboratory activities while ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Additionally, she made significant contributions to sales and marketing strategies in her role as Head of Sales and Marketing at PureMadi and Dertig Multipurpose Projects, where she drove the distribution of ceramic water filters.

She is a member of the Future Earth, Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), and Young Water Professionals (YWP-ZA), and a Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). Her accolades include recognition as the most valuable contributor and a rising star by the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR).

Ms. Chuene’s contributions to the scientific community are further evidenced by her active participation in numerous conferences and workshops, where she has presented her research and chaired sessions. Notable among these are the Young Water Professional Conference, the South African-Egypt First Joint Researchers’ Workshop, and the Nanos Nanoscience Young Researcher’s Symposium. Her diverse skill set and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge make her an invaluable addition to any research and development team. She currently works for Aphrike Research as a stakeholder relations officer. Her main roles include developing and implementing strategies to engage key stakeholders, such as researchers, students, investors, community members, and government agencies.

LinkedIn:/mofahloshi-r-m-chuene-/
ORCID: 0000-0001-6696-7343

Related resources

Aphrike’s website: https://www.aphrikeresearch.co.za/

About the webinar series

This webinar was co-organized by UbuntuNet Alliance and Access 2 Perspectives as part of the ORCID Global Participation Program.

ORCID is the persistent identifier for researchers to share their accomplishments (research articles, data, etc with funding agencies, publishers, data repositories, and other research workflows.

AfricArXiv is a community-led digital archive for African research communication. By enhancing the visibility of African research, we enable discoverability and collaboration opportunities for African scientists on the continent as well as globally.