For any university, research is one of the major pillars; it is one of the three components in the University of Nairobi (UoN). In Africa, research output visibility is low as the most common avenues of sharing research information is through academic journals and books. This form of distribution has not been effective as it does not have the desired global reach.

To this end, UoN through the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension and the University Library is working on an open access initiative. The two recently held a sensitization workshop on biodiversity and open access content targeting researchers in the College of Biological and Physical Sciences (CBPS) and College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS).

While officially opening the workshop, Prof. Lucy Irungu, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension, highlighted the importance of adapting open access as a way of disseminating research information. The open access initiative will make a wealth of resources available globally thereby making marketable contribution to research output. It will enable free access to research information.

The participants were taken through the importance of open access content and the measures that the University has already put in place on institutional repository. In addition, a presentation on Biodiversity Heritage Library was also made.

In attendance was Prof. Agnes Mwang’ombe, Principal, CAVS, Mr. Ibrahim Otieno, Director, ICT, various deans, chairmen of departments and university staff.