Women, youth the key
There has never been a better time in history for Africans to develop solutions for our own challenges, particularly with the unprecedented growth in many sectors in the country, says Science and Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor.
Opening Scifest Africa 2017 in Grahamstown last Friday evening, Pandor turned the limelight on two particular groups of people: women in science and the youth, highlighting the innovative contributions they can both make to ensure the economic growth of this country.
She welcomed the Scifest Africa focus on women scientists, explaining that she has supported this drive in the Department of Science and Technology with a number of initiatives promoting women.
One such initiative is the Women in Science Awards.
It is also a “reminder that we won’t realise the full scientific potential of our country until all our young-women scientists are able to enjoy access to the best facilities and education”.
Pandor expressed her satisfaction with the four, recent Women in Science Awards winners who are presenting lectures at the current edition of the science festival.
The first member of this elite group is Professor Shivani Mishra, who gave a lecture on the philosophy of the water molecule on the first day of Scifest Africa. She was followed the next day by Muthoni Masinde, a computer scientist, who spoke about integrating indigenous knowledge on droughts with seasonal climate forecasts.
The third award winner was Dr Henrietta Wakuna Langmi, who delivered the Brian Wilmot lecture on “Hydrogen Energy: a real solution to a real problem” shortly after Minister Pandor addressed the packed auditorium.
The fourth is Professor Jane Catherine Ngila, who on Sunday will explain to her audience how to improve water quality management.
Turning her attention to the thousands of school children who passed through the doors of Settlers’ Monument to attend this year’s instalment of the science festival, Pandor reminded us that today’s youth will make up the country’s core group of young scientists and innovators for the future.
She appealed to all the young people present to follow a career in science, engineering or technology.
This year, three Eskom Expo Young Scientists, who featured prominently in the 2016 National Awards Finals, presented their projects in two separate lectures at Scifest Africa.
Pandor said innovation was not beyond the reach of the curious pupil at school or the keen student at university, mentioning several other young role models who have come up with solutions to challenges currently facing South Africa.
At a final Scifest media briefing, Pandor acknowledged that there are certain challenges that need to be overcome to get children committed to mathematics and science. One of these is that the cycle of fear regarding science and technology, and particularly mathematics, needs to be broken.