Moses Oladele Alfred came to HZB on a Georg Forster Research Fellowship. The Nigerian chemist is an expert in low-cost materials for remediating environmental damage. But scientific expertise alone is not enough, he says: You also have to convince policymakers. He found support in a special program, training african scientists in communication and knowledge transfer. Read the full interview here >
How did you find out about this fellowship to come to Berlin?
I was interested in going abroad and learning new skills and techniques. And at my university, my supervisors had already received grants from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) or the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). I applied for DAAD during my PhD. But the competition was fierce and the first two applications were rejected. Still, I was told that I had a very good score and that I should try again. So I applied for AvH immediately after my PhD and got it at the first try. So, here I am.
Was it easy to find accommodation in Berlin?
Moses: Really, this was hard. At first, I expected to find something while I was still working in Nigeria. I didn’t, so we had to book an Airbnb for the first few weeks and keep looking. I brought my wife and my two children. Eventually we found a place, but not in Berlin. We now live in Brandenburg and I have to commute by public transport.
What can we learn from the Nigerian way of laboratory life?
In Nigeria, we are very family-oriented, also in the lab. It is a very special and warm atmosphere. I think the atmosphere here at HZB is also quite supportive and social, but I was told beforehand that people in Germany are a bit stiff. And yes, sometimes that is true.
The Nigerian lab life sounds really good. I just wonder, how do you deal with competition? Sometimes, an opportunity is only for one person – is there a solution to make everyone happy?
Absolutely, it can be difficult. Sometimes it affects the relationships afterwards, especially if decisions or choices were based on sentiments and bias. I think, transparent rules are very helpful. And a supervisor who tries to give everyone a fair chance. Then, those who are not so lucky can accept the situation in good faith. And try again better next time.
What would you like to take back to Nigeria from Germany?
The organization is superb. And the resources, of course. You have access to a variety of funding opportunities, be it European, governmental programs or industrial collaborations. You cannot do science without funding. And in Nigeria this is very difficult.
Do you see opportunities for better public funding in Nigeria?
That is why I participated in a mentorship program called INGSA-Africa Science Advise Skill Development Program co-hort 2. INGSA stands for International Network for Governmental Science Advice. We scientists in African countries need to learn how to communicate with the public in order to transfer knowledge to policymakers and convince them of the importance of better public funding of science.
What did you learn?
I went through a capacity building programme on how to translate our scientific results into evidence for policy formulation. The training also provides skills to engage policymakers. And from my previous experience of researching water pollution in certain parts of Nigeria, I have also learned the importance of listening to local communities. They have knowledge, too, and we need to involve them. So communication is really key.
What is your message to politicians?
Science can truly improve the lives of many people. With the proper research designs, tailored to the real problems, we can formulate effective measures for a healthier environment. The government and its agencies could really make a difference by supporting science.
Thank you for these interesting insights!
On INGSA:
The International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA) is an open-access collaborative platform for the understanding and strengthening of the interfaces between science and policymaking. With mentoring programs INGSA aims to build the capacity of early and mid-career African scientists across the continent for the effective practice of science advice. A new call is planned.
On Dr. Moses Alfred Oladele
Moses came to Berlin in the summer of 2024 with a Georg Forster Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He obtained his doctorate in 2021 at Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. He has since worked as a lecturer at Redeemer’s University and continued his research at the African Centre of Excellence forWater and Environmental Research (ACEWATER) (run-acewater.org), developing low-cost materials for environmental remediation of toxic wastes in water and monitoring pollutants in South West Nigeria. As Georg Forster’s Research fellow, he works with the group of Dr. Matthew Mayer, HZB, and Prof. Andreas Taubert at the University of Potsdam. In this project, he is investigating new low-cost catalyst materials that can be activated by sunlight and used to convert CO2 into valuable chemicals with a net zero carbon footprint.