Founder & National Chairperson
Everlyn Kimanthi
Biological Scientist · Science Communicator · Youth Leader · Author · Policy Advocate
Everlyn Kimanthi is a young Biological Scientist, Kenyan science communicator, youth leader, author, policy advocate and the Founder and National Chairperson of the Scientists of Kenya Association (SCOKA), a national platform that brings together scientists, researchers, students, innovators and professionals from diverse scientific disciplines to advance science, research, technology and innovation in Kenya.
Everlyn founded SCOKA at the age of 23, inspired by the need to create a platform where scientists could connect, collaborate, share knowledge, communicate their work and contribute meaningfully to society and national development. What began as a vision driven by a young scientist has grown into a national platform that brings together members across different scientific disciplines and career levels. Through SCOKA, she has championed professional development, mentorship, collaboration, research dissemination, science communication and public engagement.
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01 — STEM Outreach
Sayansi kwa Watoto na Vijana Initiative (SWAVI)
Everlyn is the founder of the Sayansi kwa Watoto na Vijana Initiative (SWAVI), an initiative established to promote interest, understanding and participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among children and young people in Kenya. The initiative focuses on both primary and secondary school learners, creating opportunities for them to interact with science beyond the classroom through mentorship, practical demonstrations, school visits, science engagement activities and career guidance.
Through SWAVI, Everlyn advocates for early exposure to STEM and seeks to inspire a generation of young people to see science not only as an academic subject, but as a tool for solving real-world challenges and improving society. The initiative also helps learners understand the diverse career pathways available in STEM and encourages them to pursue scientific careers with confidence and purpose.
Her work through SWAVI reflects her broader commitment to youth empowerment, STEM education, science communication and building stronger connections between science and society.
Explore SWAVI02 — Science Communication
Science that belongs to everyone
As a passionate science communicator, Everlyn believes that science should not remain confined to laboratories, academic journals and scientific conferences. She advocates for science that is accessible, understandable and relevant to society. Her work focuses on strengthening the relationship between scientists and the public while creating opportunities for communities, young people, policymakers and the media to engage with scientific knowledge.
03 — Flagship Initiative
Science for Society Initiative
Everlyn is the founder and driving force behind the Science for Society Initiative (SSI), a flagship initiative of SCOKA dedicated to strengthening science communication and research dissemination. SSI seeks to bridge the gap between scientists and society by making scientific knowledge more accessible, understandable and relevant to the communities it is intended to serve.
Through SSI, Everlyn promotes public engagement in science, supports researchers and scientists in communicating their work effectively and encourages the translation and dissemination of scientific knowledge beyond academic spaces. The initiative recognises that research can only achieve its full potential when society understands it, trusts it and is able to benefit from it.
SSI also creates spaces for conversations around science, research, technology and innovation, bringing together scientists, researchers, young people, policymakers, journalists and members of the public.
Explore SSI04 — SSI Podcast
Science for Society Initiative Podcast
As part of expanding the reach of SSI, Everlyn launched the Science for Society Initiative Podcast — a platform created to bring meaningful conversations on science, research, technology and innovation closer to society. The podcast provides a space for scientists, researchers, innovators, policymakers, journalists, young professionals and other thought leaders to share their knowledge, experiences and perspectives in a language and format that can be understood beyond traditional scientific audiences.
Its mandate is to connect science with society through conversations that inform, educate, inspire and encourage public participation in science. Through the podcast, Everlyn seeks to amplify scientific voices while also creating an avenue through which the public can ask questions, understand scientific issues and participate in conversations that affect their lives.
05 — Youth & Girls in STEM
Empowering young people and girls in science
Everlyn is deeply passionate about youth empowerment and meaningful youth participation in science, research, technology and innovation, with a particular focus on encouraging young girls to pursue and remain in STEM. Through mentorship programmes, school outreach, public forums, conferences, youth dialogues and science engagement activities, she has worked to inspire young people to see themselves not only as future scientists but also as leaders, innovators, communicators, advocates and contributors to national development.
She believes that young people should not simply be invited to listen to conversations about their future. They should have a seat at the table and be empowered to participate in shaping the decisions that affect them. Her commitment to youth participation has seen her serve as a Youth Ambassador for Science, Research and Innovation in Kenya and participate in various national dialogues, policy engagements and stakeholder forums as a youth representative.
06 — Policy & Public Participation
Shaping policy through science
Everlyn has been actively involved in policy co-creation, policy formulation, policy review and policy validation processes, particularly within conversations relating to science, research, technology, innovation and youth participation. She has been invited to contribute a youth perspective to several policy dialogues and stakeholder consultations, where she has advocated for stronger public engagement, effective science communication and meaningful involvement of young people in policy development and implementation.
Her contribution is grounded in the belief that policies affecting science and society should not only be developed by experts and institutions but should also incorporate the perspectives of young people, researchers, practitioners and the communities they are intended to serve.
07 — International Stage
Representing Kenya on the world stage
In 2025, Everlyn represented Kenya at the 13th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (WC13) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was the only Kenyan oral presenter at the Congress and one of the youngest oral presenters, providing a platform for Kenya’s voice within an international scientific community.
Her participation at WC13 marked an important milestone in her journey as a young science communicator and advocate. It exposed her to global conversations around alternatives to animal use in research and strengthened her interest in advancing science communication and awareness of the 3Rs, particularly among young scientists and researchers in Kenya.
08 — Author
You Young Leader
Everlyn is also an author, using writing to document her experiences and lessons from her leadership journey. Her book, You Young Leader, is written as a personal letter to young people who find themselves navigating leadership at a young age. Drawing from her own experiences of building and leading an organisation while still young, the book documents the lessons, challenges, sacrifices, mistakes, growth and realities that often come with young leadership.
Rather than presenting leadership as a perfect journey, the book seeks to speak honestly to young leaders about the experiences that are rarely discussed publicly. It encourages young people to embrace leadership, understand its responsibilities, navigate difficult seasons and continue growing even when they do not have a manual to guide them.
09 — A Growing Legacy
Science, communicated. Youth, empowered.
Everlyn’s leadership journey is particularly significant because she began building a national scientific platform at just 23 years old. Through SCOKA, SWAVI, the Science for Society Initiative, the SSI Podcast, her writing, mentorship and policy engagements, she continues to champion a vision where science is communicated, research is understood, young people are empowered and society actively participates in science.
Brains & Breakthroughs“If society doesn’t understand science, then science cannot serve society.”
Explore SCOKA
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