Making women part of science

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Making women part of science

Di Caelers

THERE'S nothing like solid science to make a difference to the lives of ordinary South Africans. And there's no better time than Women's Day (August 9 in South Africa) to recognise how far women have come in this traditionally male-dominated sector in a relatively short time, says Argus newspaper health writer DI CAELERS from her base in Cape Town.

Picture: Khungeka Njobe courtesy CSIR

THERE'S no argument that South Africa's ability to produce well-trained scientists and engineers will have an important effect on this country's continued growth.

But few are closer to the reality of the challenge of ensuring women are part of that growth than Khungeka Njobe. She is group executive in charge of research and development outcomes, and strategic human capital development, at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the biggest institution of its kind on the African continent.

Writing in the CSIR's latest quarterly edition of ScienceScope, Njobe notes that women are by a small degree the majority in terms of enrolments (53%) in the arena of science, engineering and technology. But the reality is that the more advanced the level of study, the fewer the number of women students and graduates (43% of doctorates).

Furthermore, Njobe says that while women comprise the majority (75%) of enrolment for doctorates in the life sciences and physical sciences, they remain under-represented for doctoral enrolments in the natural sciences and engineering (31%).

Of the CSIR specifically, the thirty-six-year-old says that 35% of their research and development staff are women, and that 10% of their parliamentary grant relates to impacts on gender or has a "gender-positive" approach.

"The development of a science, engineering and technology career ladder is in process, the results of which I anticipate will not reflect an abundance of women in top science or management positions.

"There is still no female CSIR fellow, but for the first time in our history we have a black woman, Nobusi Shikwane, as chairperson of our board, herself a great proponent of the advancement of women," Njobe says. Pic of Nobusi Shikwane supplied by CSIR, left.

What's needed, she suggests, is for the constraints that prevent women from advancing to be understood and addressed, "while we simultaneously need to initiate dialogues with various constituencies - including women researchers - to determine how they perceive the opportunities available to them".

Hailing the women achievers in the field who are making such a difference nationally, Njobe is frank that what's needed is an aggressive effort to establish a workforce of highly-skilled women in the field.

And she believes this starts with raising awareness of the role science and technology plays in society among young girls at schools and universities.

"The impact of science must become more visible by making science, engineering and technology accessible to all the people of this country," Njobe warns.

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* The work of the CSIR's women scientists will be among those on display at the second South African International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (INSITE) at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 24 to 27. Hosted by the Department of Science and Technology, the exhibition will bring together some of the world's most innovative minds and cutting-edge projects in science, technology and innovation. For more information, call Cebisa Mfenyana at Kagiso Exhibitions 011 661 4062 or email insite@kagisoexpo.co.za. The website is www.insitex.co.za

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August 2006	Article

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