????The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated annually on 11 February. In an opinion piece for the Mail & Guardian, Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, writes that encouraging greater participation of women and girls in science is not just about fairness; it is about progress. By empowering more women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we unlock potential, drive innovation, and build a more sustainable, equitable future for all.
- Read the original article below or click here for the piece as published.
?Prof Sibusiso Moyo*
Every year, on 11 February, we observe the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Established by the United Nations in 2015, this day serves as both a celebration and a call to action. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges that remain in advancing the participation of women and girls in STEM.
Challenges to access
Despite significant strides towards gender equality in science, barriers persist. Women and girls still face systemic challenges that limit their access to STEM education and careers. These include:
- Deeply ingrained stereotypes that STEM is a male-dominated field, discouraging young girls from pursuing these subjects.
- Unequal access to excellent learning and teaching opportunities, infrastructure/laboratories where they can have early exposure and training to the basics in the respective fields to give them an advantage.
- Limited mentorship and role models, as women remain underrepresented , especially in the African context, in senior STEM related academic and research related leadership echelons.
- Workplace inequalities which may include policies, practices and culture that may not take gender differences into account including access to research funding opportunities.
- Cultural and societal expectations, which can make it more challenging for women to balance careers in science with personal/family responsibilities.
According to UNESCO, while women make up over 50% of university graduates, they account for less than 30% of the world's researchers. This stark disparity is not just a loss for women; it is a loss for society as a whole. Innovation thrives on diversity, and science benefits from the unique perspectives and talents that women and girls bring to the table. It is imperative that we in South Africa keep on increasing the number of women and girls in STEM as this will go a long way in helping us reduce the high levels of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. A deliberate effort to improve learning and teaching infrastructure, quality delivery of education for all and ensuring high end STEM training for teachers, academics, and those at the core of training the next generation must remain a priority.
Progress and success
The good news is that change is happening. Over the years, we have seen increasing representation of women in STEM, with more female scientists leading groundbreaking research, heading prestigious institutions, and inspiring the next generation. Global initiatives, scholarships, mentorship programmes, and policy reforms are creating new opportunities for women and girls to thrive in science and technology.
At Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU), we are playing our part because we recognise the need to drive this change. We are committed to fostering a more inclusive scientific environment through targeted initiatives, which provides mentorship and networking opportunities for female students and researchers, and STEM outreach programmes for young girls, which encourage them to pursue science from an early age. It is important to pique young girls' interest in science and nurture it while they are still at school.
By funding research and supporting women scientists, we ensure that they are equitably represented in research projects and publications. Partnerships with industry and government allow us to create more career pathways for women in science and technology fields. Through these initiatives, we are not only supporting women already in science but also inspiring future generations of young girls to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and innovators.
Given our commitment to advancing the participation of women and girls in science, it was especially pleasing when, in October last year, three of our emerging women researchers — Mrs Kimberley Coetzer, Dr Lesha Pretorius, and Dr Nonsikelelo Hlongwa — were recognised with the prestigious L'Oréal-UNESCO For Woman in Science Awards, highlighting their exceptional contribution to scientific research and innovation. They were selected for the 2024 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science South Africa Young Talent programme. This global initiative aims to recognise and support women in scientific research by providing grants and fellowships to young female scientist, helping them advance their work and overcome gender barriers in STEM fields. In the same year, Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela was also awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize, recognising the work she does including mentoring and supervising younger scholars from different backgrounds. There are many other women at SU doing excellent work and we continue to feature them on Research for Impact platform.
Call to action
While universities play a critical role, this is a collective responsibility—one that requires commitment from governments, the private sector, and civil society. We must all work together to:
- Challenge stereotypes by promoting female role models in STEM fields and ensuring visibility for their achievements.
- Strengthen policies by ensuring gender equity in research funding, hiring practices, and career advancement opportunities.
- Create mentorship and sponsorship opportunities so that more young women can access the support they need to succeed.
- Invest in STEM education for girls and women by funding programmes that encourage and support girls in pursuing scientific studies.
Encouraging greater participation of women and girls in science is not just about fairness; it is about progress. The brightest minds from all backgrounds will be required if we want to solve grand challenges we face, from climate change to global health crises. By empowering more women and girls in STEM, we unlock potential, drive innovation, and build a more sustainable, equitable future for all.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let us reaffirm our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a world where every girl has the opportunity to contribute to science and shape the future. A big thank you to all our Colleagues, women and men contributing to training the next generation of scientists, scholars and innovators!
Join us in this mission—because science needs all of us.
- Photo by Stefan Els (Corporate Communication and Marketing Division)
*Professor Sibusiso Moyo is Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票.??
