In a groundbreaking move, the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) has announced plans to launch a dedicated research-focused radio and television station as part of its visionary 2024-2028 Strategic Plan.

The initiative is set to address the critical issue of limited research dissemination, with the aim of making valuable research more accessible to a broader audience.

The CEO of MAREN, Solomon Dindi made the announcement on Monday at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) in Blantyre during the opening of a two-day High Perfomance Computing and Big Data Analytics training workshop for MAREN members.

Dindi emphasized the pressing need to bridge the gap between extensive research endeavors and their dissemination to the wider public.

The CEO stated, “While our researchers are actively contributing to the knowledge base, there remains a significant gap in disseminating these findings to the general public. Our new radio and television station will serve as a dynamic platform to amplify the impact of research, ensuring that valuable insights reach a diverse audience.”

Highlighting the motivation behind the strategic move, the CEO continued, “More often than not, groundbreaking research findings are confined within academic circles. It is our responsibility to break down these barriers and bring research to the forefront, making it easily accessible to not only academia but also the broader community. This aligns seamlessly with our commitment to fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and societal impact.”

The establishment of the research radio and television station is a key component of MAREN’s broader strategy to enhance research dissemination and community engagement. The initiative is expected to facilitate collaboration between researchers, educators, and the public, creating a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.