Research Fellow Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Kakamega, Kenya
The Biology of Vector-Borne Diseases (BVBD) course is a novel approach to training. I attended the BVBD course as a PhD student to learn a wide range of hot topics about insect-vectored diseases with an opportunity to network with experienced scientists. The course content and style of presentation was phenomenal, informative, practical and inspiring with new knowledge that cleared silo thinking of plant virus diseases alone, but embraced multidisciplinary approach belt to control vector-borne diseases. As a BVBD instructor, the course provides new distinct knowledge and ideas outside of my main research to focus on all the domains of interrelationship among the pathosystem players associated with the BVBD in plants, animals and humans with the environment. Going forward in my career, as a trainer of trainers, lecturer and the team leader of The African Cocoyam Research Consortium at the JR Biotek Africa Crop-Innovation Hub to coordinate the West Africa and East Africa teams, I replicate most of the novel learning opportunities in training and management on practical ways to address current and emerging insect-vectored plant viruses that pose one of the greatest global threats to plant and animal health, and most have negative impacts on the environment and human health.