Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work
Exceptional women overcome obstacles to produce brilliant research
The Women in Science Awards is a celebration of the achievements of women in science, and it is a reminder that the full scientific potential of our country will only be realised when all our young women are able to enjoy access to the best facilities and education.
South African women scientists have received many and various international science awards. For example, three remarkable South African women scientists have received the l’Oreal UNESCO science award: Professor Jill Farrant for her work on food security; Professor Tabello Nyokong for her work on cancer diagnosis and treatment; and Professor Jennifer Thomson for the “development of transgenic plants resistant to viral infections, droughts and other risks”.
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has published a collection of 53 biographical profiles of eminent scientists in a booklet they have called “Legends of South African Science” to mark its 20th anniversary in 2016 and there are fewer women than men: Jill Farrant, Patricia Berjak (food security), Brenda Wingfield (forest-based economy), Jill Adler and Mamokgethi Phakeng (school mathematics education, Valerie Mizrahi (tuberculosis) and Quarraisha Karim, Helen Rees, Olive Shisana, Anna Coutsoudis and Glenda Gray (HIV infection).
They overcame the obstacles that women scientists face. They managed the age-old conflict between family and career. They managed to succeed, even though only one in five - before 2016 when it was increased to two in five - of our prestigious SARChI professors is a woman. They managed to succeed, even where women scientists still receive far fewer research grants from the National Research Foundation than their male counterparts.
The theme for this year’s Women in Science Awards is “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work”, in line with the theme of the 61st session of the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women, held earlier this year.
The Women in Science Awards shows that women and girls can succeed and excel in science and research. Our finalists are in engineering, genetics, conservation, health, education and information technology, among other fields. I hope that, by showcasing their exceptional achievements, younger women will be inspired to follow in their footsteps.