Sharon Muzaki
Summary
Sharon Muzaki is a science and environmental journalist based in Uganda, specialising in reporting at the intersection of climate change, health, and technology. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communication from Makerere University and has completed extensive training in data journalism, climate reporting, agroecology, and multimedia storytelling.
She is the inaugural fellow of the Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East Fellowship, under the prestigious Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) Program at MIT. Her experience includes in-depth reporting and collaboration with global experts, as well as work with local and international organisations to advance public understanding of science and environmental issues.
Sharon is also the co-founder of the Great Lakes Centre for Climate and Tech, a nonprofit organisation promoting climate literacy, digital media engagement, and youth involvement in environmental solutions. Her reporting is solutions-driven, accessible, and grounded in data and community perspectives.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Environmental and Science Journalist
Nature Africa
01.2025 - Current
• Writing, editing, and producing high-quality science journalism for Nature Africa, with a focus on making complex scientific topics accessible to general and specialised audiences across the continent.
• Collaborating with researchers, institutions, and scientific networks across Africa and globally to report on groundbreaking scientific discoveries, innovations, and policy developments.
• Engaging with international and regional audiences to foster a deeper understanding of science, technology, health, and the environment through multimedia storytelling and accurate, evidence-based reporting.
• Preparing press releases, feature articles, and science communication content aligned with public interest and editorial standards.
• Participating in editorial reviews, fact-checking processes, and contributing to the strategic direction of science communication initiatives.
Co-founder and Climate Journalism Lead
The Great Lakes Centre for Climate and Tech
09.2024 - Current
• Lead the development and delivery of training programmes in climate journalism for reporters across East Africa
• Create educational resources and curricula to help journalists integrate climate science and environmental issues into mainstream reporting
• Spearhead youth engagement initiatives, using digital platforms and facilitated dialogues to make climate science accessible and relatable
• Translate and communicate emerging technologies in climate science, offering regional insights into global innovations
• Support media capacity building with a focus on data-driven and solutions-oriented environmental storytelling
Environmental and Science Journalist
UGStandard Media
02.2019 - Current
• Reported on pressing environmental issues including climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution, with a focus on East Africa.
• Conducted in-depth interviews with environmental scientists, policymakers, local communities, and civil society leaders to inform evidence-based journalism.
• Researched, analysed, and synthesised complex environmental data to produce investigative reports and long-form feature articles.
• Raised public awareness and inspired action on environmental challenges through compelling storytelling and accessible reporting.
• Monitored and tracked policy developments, climate finance, and conservation efforts to inform timely and impactful news coverage.
• Based in Kampala, Uganda, with a regional reporting focus that included rural and urban environmental dynamics.
• Collaborated with media houses and environmental networks to disseminate content through print, online, and broadcast platforms.
Research Fellow
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
08.2024 - 12.2024
• Selected as the inaugural Fellow for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East under the prestigious Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) program
• Engaged in an intensive semester-long curriculum of seminars, workshops, training sessions, and field trips with leading scientists and communicators in the Boston–Cambridge area
• Audited university-level science courses at MIT and affiliated institutions to deepen subject-matter expertise
• Participated in bi-weekly seminars and collaborative activities designed to advance science storytelling and public engagement with complex scientific topics
• Supported by a designated MIT faculty sponsor and KSJ advisors for mentorship and professional development
• Received full stipend and health coverage while residing full-time in the U.S. as part of a structured programme aimed at strengthening science journalism globally
Education
Bachelor’s Degree -
Makerere University
08.2014 - 01.2019
Skills
Content creation
Awards
• Inaugural Fellow, Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East
Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT (2024/25)
Selected as the first-ever recipient of this prestigious regional fellowship, hosted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Research Fellow, Knight Science Journalism Program, MIT
Fall 2024 Semester
Participating in intensive seminars, workshops, and coursework focused on science communication, with leading academics and researchers in Cambridge and Boston.
• Certificates in Specialised Reporting
2021–2023
Earned professional certificates in Data Journalism, Multimedia Reporting, and Environmental Coverage through accredited training programs.
• Agroecology and Mobile Storytelling Training Programs
Recognised for successful completion of regionally impactful journalism training initiatives focused on sustainable agriculture and digital storytelling methods.
Personal Information
Nationality: Ugandan
Fellowships
1. August – December 2024
Fellowship for Advancing Science Journalism in Africa and the Middle East
Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, Cambridge, USA
Created in honour of the late Egyptian science journalist Mohammed Yahia and funded by Springer Nature, this prestigious research fellowship enriches the training of journalists in Africa and the Middle East. It supports journalists committed to high-quality science and health reporting and fosters deeper global understanding of scientific advances.
2. November 2022 – January 2023
Excellence in Journalism: Climate Change Fellowship
Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC), Nairobi, Kenya
Supported by the German Development Bank (KfW), this fellowship provided in-depth training in climate change reporting, focusing on solution-oriented journalism and regional environmental challenges.
3. January 2022
Climate Journalism Seminar Fellowship
Oxford Climate Journalism Network, in collaboration with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford
A six-month fellowship offering specialised education in climate change reporting, global climate policy, and advanced storytelling techniques.
4. 2022 (First Cohort)
Agroecology Fellowship
Agroecology School for Journalists and Communicators, ESAFF Uganda
Focused on agroecology, food systems, and rural reporting, with practical fieldwork and close engagement with small-scale farming communities.
5. October – December 2021
Fellowship on Covering the Environment
African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), supported by the European Union Delegation to Uganda
Centred on strengthening environmental journalism and enhancing reporting on critical issues such as climate change, deforestation, and sustainable development.
Trainings and Workshops
1. February 2023
Online Seminar on Sport and Climate Change – by Play the Game.
Completed a four-week online training on the intersection of sport and the global climate crisis, with a focus on Africa. The course examined how climate change affects global and African sports, the environmental impact of the sports industry, and the policy and governance responses needed. Engaged with curated academic and media content, expert seminars, and discussions around fossil fuel sponsorship, sport’s role in sustainable development, and climate justice in the Global South.
2. Nile Journalists Media Training (2023, 2024 & 2025)
Specialised Media Training – NELSAP-CU (Rwanda and Tanzania editions)
Participated in a series of regionally hosted training programs organised by the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program Coordination Unit (NELSAP-CU)
Conferences and Forums
STAT Summit 2024 – Health and Life Sciences Leadership Forum
October 2024 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Selected to attend STAT’s annual flagship summit, a premier gathering of global leaders in health care, biotechnology, and life sciences. Engaged in keynotes, panels, and exclusive networking sessions focused on innovation, future medicine, and global health policy. Gained insights into emerging trends in science and health reporting with access to on-demand content and professional opportunities.
Science Journalism Forum Fellowship – SJF24
October 2024 | Virtual & International
Awarded a competitive fellowship to participate in the 2024 Science Journalism Forum, the world’s largest and most diverse international science journalism gathering.
Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF)
October 2023 | Kampala, Uganda
Africa Climate Summit / Africa Climate Week
September 2023 | Nairobi, Kenya
Global Youth Climate Summit
October 2023 | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
12th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC2024)
January–February 2024 | Abu Dhabi, UAE
Timeline
Environmental and Science Journalist
Nature Africa
01.2025 - Current
Co-founder and Climate Journalism Lead
The Great Lakes Centre for Climate and Tech
09.2024 - Current
Research Fellow
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
08.2024 - 12.2024
Environmental and Science Journalist
UGStandard Media
02.2019 - Current
Bachelor’s Degree -
Makerere University
08.2014 - 01.2019
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