A milestone for science education: The Inaugural Kenyan Schools Crystallization Contest

The first-ever Kenyan Schools Crystallization Contest, held on 25th January 2025, marked a major step in introducing young students to the field of crystallography. Organized by a collaborative team from Spain and Kenya, this initiative aimed to spark scientific curiosity and hands-on learning among high school students, mirroring similar successful competitions held in Europe and the US.

This contest was part of the “Learning How Science Works with Crystals” program, which began with a teacher training workshop in November 2023. Armed with knowledge from this workshop, teachers guided their students in growing crystals using ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP), known for its ease of crystal formation.

Rather than a simple crystal-growing showcase, the competition was structured like a scientific conference. Students presented their findings to a panel of scientists through posters, logbooks, oral presentations and crystal samples. An eight-member jury, composed of scientists — Vincent Madadi, Daniel Ichang’i, Patricia Gitari, Fredrick Mwazighe, Ruth Othiambo, Eunice Nyawade, Ruth Omole and Fermin Otálora — evaluated and scored the projects. The judges assessed the projects based on documentation and data collection, creativity and presentation skills.

One remarkable aspect of the event was the ingenuity displayed by students. Some groups adapted local materials — such as using an African calabash instead of Styrofoam — demonstrating both resourcefulness and an understanding of crystallization conditions.

The contest was enthusiastically received, with students displaying a strong grasp of key scientific concepts such as solubility, supersaturation and nucleation. The engagement and excitement in the room confirmed that this was an effective way to introduce students to STEM fields.

However, as with any inaugural event, there were challenges. Some public schools faced delays in obtaining participation approval from the Ministry of Education, and teacher turnover in private schools created continuity gaps. These logistical hurdles highlighted the need for earlier planning and greater institutional support for future editions. 

The top three schools were awarded professional biological microscopes, while all participants received handheld USB microscopes to encourage continued exploration. Judges emphasized that the competition was not just about growing the best crystal, but about understanding the entire experimental process — a key takeaway for young scientists.

The award ceremony was held at Millenium Hall 1 on the Chiromo Campus. In addition to the judges, the event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Solomon Derese, Associate Professor at FST at the University of Nairobi (UoN); Martin Mbugua, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Science and Technology; Professor Juan Manuel García-Ruiz, Research Professor at Donostia International Physics Center, Spain; Dr Fermin Otálora, Senior Researcher at IACT, Spanish National Research Council in Granada; Ms Natalia Suarez de Puga Canosa, Consul at the Spanish Embassy to Kenya; Professor Dickson Andala, CEO of the National Research Fund as well as a member of the Inaugural Executive Committee of the African Crystallographic Association, Dr Naumih Noah, The Nairobi Chapter Chair of the Kenya Chemical Society; Professor Leonida Kerubo, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (UoN); and Professor Santiago García Granda, President of the IUCr, who delivered his remarks via video conferencing. Professor García Granda expressed his enthusiasm for supporting Kenya’s first crystallization contest.

In the future, the organizers aim to expand the competition by including more public schools, securing industry sponsorships and ensuring long-term sustainability. With the strong foundation set by this inaugural event, the future of crystallography education in Kenya looks bright.

The IUCr is proud to have supported this initiative, reinforcing our commitment to fostering scientific education and outreach worldwide. If you would like to find out more, please see our Outreach page. 

The organisers would like to make the following acknowledgements:
•    Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
•    Donostia International Physics Center
•    University of Nairobi
•    International Union of Crystallography
•    The Spanish Embassy in Kenya
•    Bruker
•    Members of the Jury
•    The Technical staff of UoN
•    Volunteer postgraduate students
•    Dr José Antonio Gavira (CSIC)
•    Dr Luis Antonio Gonzalez-Ramirez

The organisers at the event venue with the Consul at the Spanish Embassy. From left to right: Martin Njogu Mbugua, Natalia Suarez de Puga Canosa, Juan-Manuel García-Ruiz, Patricia Gitari, Fermín Otálora and Solomon Derese.