Florence Wambugu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florenece Wambugu
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| Born | August 23, 1953 |
| Nationality | Kenya |
| Alma mater | University of Nairobi North Dakota State University University of Bath |
| Occupation | plant pathologist and virologist |
Florence Muringi Wambugu is a famous scientist from Kenya. She was born on August 23, 1953, in Nyeri County. Florence is a plant pathologist and a virologist. This means she studies plant diseases and the tiny viruses that affect plants. She is well-known for supporting the use of biotechnology to help grow more food in Africa.
Contents
Early Life
Florence Wambugu was born in 1953. She was the sixth of nine children in her family.
Education and Learning
Florence Wambugu was the first woman to attend the University of Nairobi in Kenya. There, she earned her first degree in botany and zoology. Botany is the study of plants, and zoology is the study of animals.
Later, she traveled to the United States. In 1984, she received her Master of Science degree in plant pathology from North Dakota State University. She then went to England and earned her PhD from the University of Bath in 1991.
In 2009, the University of Bath also gave her an honorary degree called a Doctor of Science. This was to recognize her amazing work.
Her Work as a Scientist
Since 2002, Florence Wambugu has been the founder and CEO of the Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI). This organization helps use science to improve farming in Africa.
Before that, she worked at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) from 1978 to 1991. She was a senior research officer and helped lead plant biotechnology research. From 1991 to 1994, she worked as a special researcher with the Monsanto Company.
Helping Farmers Grow More Food
Florence Wambugu has done a lot to improve important crops in Kenya. These include maize (corn), pyrethrum (a plant used to make insecticide), bananas, sweet potatoes, and trees. She has written over 100 articles about her research.
She also served on many important groups and committees. These included the United Nations Millennium Development goals Hunger task force, which worked to end hunger. She was also part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenge in Global Health, which supports big science projects to improve health worldwide.
Sweet Potato Project
Florence Wambugu was part of a project to create a special kind of genetically modified (GM) sweet potato. The goal was to make sweet potatoes stronger against diseases. In 2004, a science magazine called New Scientist reported that the project faced challenges.
Awards and Recognition
Florence Wambugu has received many awards for her important work.
- IITA's (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria) Award (1981)
- KARI's Crop Science Award for Outstanding Scientist of the Year (1989)
- International Potato Center's (CIP) Regional Research Award/Grant (1989)
- Farmers Support Award, Pyrethrum Marketing Board of Kenya (1990)
- Recognized as an excellent PhD student by Horticultural Research International in England and KARI (1991)
- Monsanto Company Outstanding Performance Award (1992, 1993)
- First Place Medal Winner, Global Development Network Awards, KARI (2000)
- World Bank Global Development Network Award, for successfully bringing tissue-culture banana to Kenya (2000)
- Woman of the Year by Eve Magazine (2000)
- Yara Prize, for her big help in fighting hunger and poverty in Africa (2008)
- Honorary Degree (Doctor of Science), University of Bath (2009)
See also
In Spanish: Florence Wambugu para niños
