Biography
Professor Emeritus Ratemo W. Michieka is a Kenyan agricultural and environmental scientist specialising in weed science, integrated weed management and environmental management. He currently serves as President of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences, Chancellor of Tharaka University, and Treasurer of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC).
Professor Michieka received his higher education and advanced training at Rutgers University in the United States, including a Ph.D. in Weed Science, and subsequently undertook postdoctoral research at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. His academic leadership has included serving as the Founding Vice-Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
His wider institutional leadership has spanned science, higher education and environmental governance across Kenya and Africa. He served as the Founding Chairperson of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC), Chairman of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), Chair of the Kenyatta University Council, and Director General of Kenya's National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). He has also held leadership roles in national and regional research and education institutions.
His contributions to science, education and public service have received national and international recognition. He holds the Kenyan national honour of Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), received the George H. Cook Distinguished Alumni Award from Rutgers University in 1997, and was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2003.
His experience in agricultural science, environmental management, science academies and higher-education leadership is particularly relevant to Liberia's priorities in food security, environmental sustainability, research capacity and the development of young scientists.