Research must move beyond journals to drive societal change —Chagomoka

Head of Innovation Scaling and Business Acceleration (ISBA) at the Directorate of Impact Delivery—International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Dr. Takemore Chagomoka, has called on scientists and researchers to ensure their work moves beyond academic journals and reports if it is to deliver meaningful impact in society.

Speaking during a science seminar in Nairobi titled “Research, Outreach, Dissemination for Impact”, Chagomoka said many innovations remained confined to publications, limiting their potential to transform livelihoods, influence policy, and address pressing challenges such as food security, poverty, and climate change.

“Research impact is not linear. It is a continuum that requires systems thinking, inter-disciplinarity, and feedback loops that ensure findings are tested, adapted, and improved in real-world contexts,” he said.

Chagomoka explained that the true measure of research lies in its effect on people’s lives, which can be assessed through domains such as policy and institutional change, poverty reduction, gender inclusion, food and nutrition security, and environmental sustainability.

As examples, he cited CIMMYT’s drought-tolerant maize in Africa, which increased yields by 20–30 percent and improved food security for more than nine million people, and WorldFish’s small-scale aquaculture initiatives in Bangladesh that boosted women’s incomes while enhancing household diets.

Chagomoka urged researchers to design projects with scaling in mind by asking critical questions from the outset.

“What problem is being solved? What evidence is needed to demonstrate effectiveness? Can the intervention be adapted to different contexts? And what resources are required to expand it?” he posed.

Chagomoka further emphasized the importance of participatory approaches such as farmer field schools, community-based research, on-farm trials, and co-creation workshops to ensure innovations are relevant and widely adopted.

According to him, effective communication is equally crucial. He noted that while journals and technical reports remained important, research findings must also be shared through practice-oriented tools like extension guides, videos, infographics, and community outreach platforms.

For mass impact, he added, tools such as digital media, theatre, and storytelling can help translate scientific insights into practical solutions.

“Ultimately, research achieves its true value when it transforms lives. It must move from reports to reality, delivering solutions that are inclusive, sustainable, and scalable,” Chagomoka said.

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