The University of Pretoria (UP) hosted the 5th Women in Science Symposium 2023 recently which sought to recognise the role of women and girls in science not only as beneficiaries, but also as agents of change in accelerating progress toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The theme of the symposium which was held at Future Africa as part of Women’s Month, was: ‘Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. Sustain. (I.D.E.A.S.). Bringing Everyone Forward for Sustainable and Equitable Development.’ 

“As I open my talk, allow me to bring forward and speak the name of Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields,” said Professor Flavia Senkubuge, a medical doctor and UP’s Acting Vice-Principal for Student Life during an emotive keynote address. “In spite of all her achievements she was never elected to the French Academy of Sciences because she was a woman.” 

“Allow me to bring forward and speak the name of Dr Mae Carol Jemison,” Prof Senkubuge continued. “An engineer, medical doctor, and former NASA astronaut who became the first African-American woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She experienced racial and gender discrimination throughout her school and working career.” 

“Allow me to bring forward and speak the name of Charlotte Makgomo Maxeke – South Africa’s first black woman graduate,” Prof Senkubuge said.

“She obtained a B.Sc degree from Wilberforce University, Ohio and wrote extensively about women’s rights and later co-founded the Bantu Women’s League – the first women’s organisation in South Africa – in 1918.” 

After speaking of these women who achieved great milestones in science against fierce resistance and discrimination, Prof Senkubuge said it’s important that people across the world, more so in Africa and South Africa, play their part and shoulder the responsibility of achieving the goals aimed at creating sustainable and equitable development in the science field.

“In South Africa, we have come to the realisation that it cannot be business as usual,” she said. “We need to be more determined than ever before and bold enough in articulating the need to involve women and girls in innovation, demonstration, elevation, advancement, and sustainability in the field of science.”

“In so doing, the impact of bringing everyone forward has resulted in moving the needle forward where women scientists are now designing and creating various products, from the beauty industry to the automobile industry – products made by women for women – and the impact has been profound.”

Closing the event, UP Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Themba Mosia, said: “In reflecting on what has been spoken about today, I feel like the only appropriate concluding remark that I can make is to reiterate that achieving true gender parity requires the active involvement of all members of society, including us men.”

“Men need to be aware of the perspectives, experiences, and challenges that women face on an ongoing basis and then engage as crucial allies, working hand in hand to transform the education sector, workplace, and world into a place where men and women can thrive equally. Men in privileged positions within diverse social, political, and economic spheres can use their influence to echo messages of equality and can lead by example among their peers. This catalyses impact and triggers truly transformative change towards gender equality by making it everyone’s responsibility”.

Prof Mosia said the actions that need to happen – pay equity, flexible work policies, representation, and recruitment and hiring practices – need to be initiated by men as well as women, and not only as a “tick-box” exercise but to be truly incorporated into the organisations’ cultures.