Why a Learning Lab?

Why a Learning Lab?

Dr. Robby Richardson: “In my role in the learning lab, I hope to gain a better understanding of the drivers of rural food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and their linkages to environmental degradation such as deforestation and biodiversity losses, so that interventions can be developed and targeted at shaping choices and behaviors that have the greatest potential for enhancing food security and environmental conservation. I contribute to interdisciplinary learning by playing a facilitative and integrative role, bringing together concepts and assumptions from various disciplines and seeking areas of shared understanding and common ground.

Dr. Paul Roge: I am interested in the Learning Lab as a means to share findings and exchange ideas about my ongoing research in the Snapp Lab. These include bibliometric studies of the literature on perennial grains, as well as interviews with farmers in Mali and Malawi about the ways that perenniality forms a part of their farming systems.”

Chiwimbo Gwenambira: “The learning lab will be a platform that will help me to sharpen and develop the skills I have and need as a researcher. My main concern with scientific research in general is about feedback to the general public. I am hoping that by participating in the learning lab, I will learn to reproduce research findings into easy and understandable material meant for the general public. This could also be made possible by reviewing feedback from the main stakeholders who will view our content on the learning lab.”

Dr. Princess Adjei-Frimpong: “The Learning Lab will create an environment where researchers can engage with partners to co-design, learn and share ideas. It will also be a platform to inform the scientific community and the general public about on-going experiments, what is being learned and who is behind them.”

Dr. Timothy Silberg:  “I’m excited to be participating in the Learning Lab for a number of reasons. I believe that the lab’s approach of bringing farmers and researchers together to design farming innovations is quintessential for successful extension. Participating in the lab has been an incredible experience for him as he’s seen these two parties educate each other and grow together.”