SESSION

Science-based reporting on Africa’s water resources is contributing to community wellbeing and planetary health

Africa’s water resources are under increasing strain from climate change, pollution, and population growth. These challenges directly impact the wellbeing of community and environmental health. Journalism that relies on solid scientific information is crucial for informing the public, holding power accountable, and fostering solutions.

This session will explore how rigorous, evidence-driven reporting on water issues in Africa can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for people and the planet.

Experienced water journalists from Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa will share their firsthand experiences of investigating and reporting on complex water-related stories. They will discuss how they integrate scientific data, research findings, and expert opinions into their work to provide accurate and impactful coverage. The session will highlight the critical role of science in understanding the multifaceted challenges facing Africa’s water resources, from the impacts of drought and flooding to the consequences of water pollution and the complexities of managing shared water bodies, drawing on their own experiences.

  • Fredrick Mugira
    Session proposer, producer and moderator | Water Journalists Africa | Uganda
    Fredrick Mugira is a National Geographic explorer and recipient for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications. He has reported on water, climate change, and wildlife for 20 years, founded Water Journalists Africa, and co-founded InfoNile, a geo-journalism project which operates the NileWell project.
  • Pascalinah Kabi
    Speaker | Uncensored News | Lesotho
    Pascalinah Kabi is a senior water journalist based in Lesotho. In 2022, Kabi investigated and published Pollution, Profits, and the People, a book exposing the disastrous impacts of three leading mining companies on Lesotho’s water courses of rural communities downstream the mines.
  • Adelakun AnuOluwapo
    Speaker | Freelance | Nigeria
    Adelakun AnuOluwapo is a senior freelance water journalist from Nigeria. She investigates how corruption within Nigeria facilitates the pollution of freshwater sources and frustrates citizens’ access to safe and clean water.
  • Mekonnen Teshome Tollera
    Speaker | Freelance | Ethiopia
    Mekonnen Teshome Tollera is an internationally published freelance journalist from Ethiopia, is a senior communication and public relations expert, and is passionate about science communication. He works as a correspondent for various international media outlets including IMS, American Geophysical Union (Eos), SciDev.net, and ScienceAfrica, amongst others.
 

The World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) will take place at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa from 1 – 5 December 2025, with the theme “Science journalism and social justice: journalism that builds understanding and resilience”.

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