Langat, Simon

Simon Langat spent most of his working years in the public sector in science policy, as an employee of the Ministry of Research and Technology (later the State Department of Higher Education) and later, the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). During this period, he participated in and led the development of research regulation in Kenya, developing national policies for research review, prioritisation, and international cooperation. He participated in the drafting of the East African Community Treaty and several international collaboration activities during his time in service. He attended all the civil service training courses at the Kenya School of Government, including the Strategic Leadership Development Programme and Governance of State Corporations.

He has adequate corporate leadership experience, having sat on the Boards of Management of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya Technical Teacher Training Institute, Board of Governors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), the UNESCO Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC), and the African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF).

Simon Langat pursued a master’s in philosophy and ethics to aid his involvement in the ethics of science and technology. Along with other colleagues, he established the Bioethics Society of Kenya (BSK) to promote ethics in technology development, health, research, and the environment. He has published several papers in bioethics.

He was honoured with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya in 2008 and a knighthood in the Order of Academic Palms in 2017 by the Republic of France. He is currently consulting and training in research leadership, ethics, and related areas, besides being a certified mediator as an Associate of the Centre for International Arbitration.

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Speaking in
IASP 2024
Breakout 9: Ethical considerations in innovation