After months of hands-on fieldwork in Bomet County, a group of MSc students from the University of Eldoret took the next step in their research journey at the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) Mazingira Centre — a world-class environmental research facility in Nairobi, Kenya. Their experience, as part of the HABITAT Project — Harnessing Pasture Biodiversity and Productivity — offered an invaluable immersion into laboratory science, data analysis, and global scientific discourse.
The Mazingira Centre serves as a hub for environmental research and capacity building, focused on generating evidence and technical expertise that supports climate-smart agriculture, sustainable livestock production, and food security across the Global South.
Bridging Data and Discovery
For the students — including Daniel Rotich, Winnie Chepkemoi, and Caroline Chepkoech Kitur — the transition from fieldwork to laboratory analysis was transformative.
Daniel described his lab role as a crucial phase of his research: organizing, cleaning, and analyzing complex biodiversity and cultural domain datasets collected during field sampling. This foundational work underscores a central truth of scientific research — accurate data handling is essential to credible results. At the same time, he supported soil sample preparation and in-vitro nutrient analyses, expanding his familiarity with rigorous lab protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Winnie’s laboratory focus centered around in-vitro rumen fermentation techniques. By incubating pasture samples in simulated rumen fluid and measuring the resulting gas production, she gained insights into how forage diversity affects digestibility and methane emissions — factors central to developing climate-smart feeding strategies that improve livestock productivity while reducing environmental impact.
Caroline’s time in the soil lab emphasized soil health analysis. From careful sample processing to measuring pH, moisture, nutrient content, and organic carbon, her work offered a deeper understanding of how soils respond to management practices and climate variability — knowledge that directly contributes to building resilient agricultural systems.
Learning Beyond the Bench
In addition to technical tasks, the students had the opportunity to participate in seminars and scientific networking. Attending the 9th International Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture (GGAA) Conference in Nairobi exposed them to the latest research and global perspectives on climate change, livestock systems, and sustainability — enriching their scientific thinking and professional growth.
Beyond the mechanics of lab work, the experience nurtured broader competencies: precision in methodology, data integrity, effective scientific communication, and teamwork across disciplines. For these emerging researchers, the interplay between field data, laboratory evidence, and scientific dialogue revealed research not as isolated tasks but as an integrated process that advances both knowledge and impact.
A Foundation for Future Impact
Their placement at the Mazingira Centre reinforced how research training and real-world challenges intertwine to prepare students for careers in environmental science, agriculture, and sustainable development. As they return to their academic pursuits and move forward professionally, the skills gained — from data science to lab techniques to conference engagement — will underpin contributions to climate resilience and sustainable food systems across East Africa and beyond.
About the HABITAT Project
The HABITAT Project brings together scientists and students from Bangor University, ILRI, the University of Eldoret, and other partners to investigate how pasture biodiversity and smallholder management influence livestock productivity, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate resilience in Kenya’s highland dairy systems.
Article Couresy of: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/habitat/news/inside-the-mazingira-centre-lab-h…
