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Ms. Catherine Nyawira Wachira
1993-2022
During 2022 we lost our friend and colleague Ms. Catherine "Cate" Wachira. Cate was a passionate scientist, working on the freshwater that sustains us all. We lost her too soon. ​Catherine was an integral, dedicated and uplifting member of ACARE’s African Women in Science (AWIS) program. She has been a sister in the AWIS community and her loss is deeply felt. During the time she spent at AWIS meetings and in Kigoma at the Species In Ancient Lakes conference with the AWIS program, she brought much intellect and a joyful sprit to those around her. She supported others in pursuing their goals and dreams and was motivated to pursue her own as well. We are heartbroken that she is unable to achieve her goals as a scientist, a mother, and a wife. We carry her beautiful spirit with us as an inspiration to follow our dreams. May her memory be a blessing to her family and friends.
Catherine's Biography from the AWIS program, written at the beginning of 2022:
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Catherine Wachira is a young energetic scholar passionate about aquaculture. She believes Africa is a great land with immense potential and we should never be considered a food insecure continent if we manage our African Great Lakes well. We need the right knowledge and skills to utilize fully, our fresh water resources.
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Her passion on aquaculture started when she received the opportunity to join the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute at the beginning of 2021.She received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University. After joining KMFRI, she learned that fish farming is one of the most lucrative ventures and it could feed this continent if people have the right knowledge and skills. Most fish farmers fail to produce the desired yields because they lack the expertise needed to make it happen and the right skills on value addition technologies. Her research focuses on the different challenges fish farmers face and ways to mitigate them. If well managed, fish farming can eradicate poverty and also make Africa a food secure continent.
A video that Catherine made as part of her vision for women scientists. Recorded at the beginning of 2022.