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Woman scientists open up career horizons for Cape Town girls

Mathematics, science and technology education are in crisis in South Africa as schools struggle to find qualified teachers denying talented pupils the opportunities to develop their skills.

Khayelitsha students Asanda Ketile and Patience Kasba sit with their teacher Helena van der Merwe and fellow Queen's Park high school classmates Portia Emisa of Goodwood and Phagen Warden of Mitchell's Plain at the celebration of women in science which marked their Women's Day.

How do you become a scientist if you've never met one? For some high school girls from the Cape Flats, this is not a problem. They had lots of face-to-face time with young women scientists at a recent Women's Day event hosted by South African Women in Science and Engineering (SAWISE).

''It was helpful in choosing careers,'' said Nobelusi Kenyana, a matric student from Harry Gwala high school in Khayelitsha. After touring the exhibits at the SAWISE event inside the 'whale well' at the South African museum, the 18-year-old from Site B in Khayelitsha knew what she wanted to do for a living: explore the universe. More specifically,  explore the stars, using telescopes.

''I've made up my mind. I'm thinking of astronomy and cosmology. I heard of
careers in astronomy when I was there,'' Nobelusi said. Her classmate Zimkhitha Phikelela, 17, from Macassar, said that as she liked maths, she was planning to become an electrical engineer.

Lentegeur High School physical science teacher Peter Petersen showed his support for South African womenfolk by taking four of his teenage girl students out of Mitchell's Plain for the morning. ''The children enjoyed themselves,'' said Petersen. ''They had a thoroughly good time, and it was informative for them. I think it did make an impact on their lives, so, yes, a great event for them.'' His matric students included Nasugah Petersen, 17, Rhonda Galant, 18, Widaad Philander, 18, and Lara Ross, 18. ''I liked the tables with experiments, especially the physics demonstrations,'' said Widaad Philander. ''At first, I was really confused about what to do after school but now I've got an idea. I'd like to do physics.''

"I always like engineering and it gave me a broader view of it,'' explained Nasugah Petersen. ''It made my choice of career easier.'' Nasugah collected brochures at one of the display tables at the SAWISE function and leafed through them. ''I think I'd like to do chemical engineering,'' she said.
Other students had a change of heart, not necessarily a change of career, ''Science is not so boring as I used to think, it can be interesting, challenging and fun,'' said Nomzamo Kilani, 18, from Site C in Khayelitsha.

'I learnt new things today. You can go anywhere with science and maths because it crosses boundaries,'' said Hlumisa Xakaza 17, from Makaza. Phagen Warden, 16, attended the SAWISE function as part of a team of students from Queen's Park High School in Woodstock. ''The part where we got to walk around and see different tables with different scientists was fun,'' the grade 11 student from Mitchell's Plain said.

The table organised by scuba-diver Andrea Plos from the University of Cape Town zoology department was a popular site during the Women's Day celebration.''The table with the tank of sharks and lobsters, where we got to touch them and pick them up, that was my favourite part of the day. A lot of people didn't want to move from that table,'' Phagen said.

Speakers and exhibitors included materials engineer Silethelwe Nxumalo from Johannesburg, veterinary professor Mary-Catherine Madekurozwa from Pretoria, nuclear physicist Nonhlanhla Mokoena from Cape Town and Refiloe Ntoi, who has just started her doctorate in environmental engineering in Durban. Organiser and UCT mathematician Diane Wilcox paid tribute to Marie Irissou from L'Oréal cosmetics and Serdar Ozbayraktar from Element Six industrial diamond manufacturers for their support in turning more young girls into young scientists.

The event was held at Iziko museum's South African museum in Company Gardens and was followed by an afternoon session for young woman scientists to encourage them to stay the course. ''Things have never been better for young girls entering science but there is a pipeline issue. We need to get more women through to higher levels. We have to keep the flow going," said acting SAWISE chairperson and treasurer Karen Esler, an ecologist who specializes in arid zones like the Karoo at the University of Stellenbosch.

Mathematics, science and technology education are in crisis in South Africa as schools struggle to find qualified teachers denying talented pupils the opportunities to develop their skills. In his State of the Nation address in February President Thabo Mbeki reminded South Africans how much work still needed to be done in education of the youth when he said that "...the number of matric students who pass Mathematics at the higher grade is only slightly better than in 1995." And, to compound this problem, only a handful of girls are encouraged to study mathematics and science in senior high school and university.

* SAWISE is offering two R11,000 scholarships for female science students
already at varsity who are considering doing an honours degree. For more
information, check out their website on www.sawise.org.za 

More information:

 www.sawise.org.za

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