Supporting Women in Science in Southern Africa

Female scientists present their research at the Canon Collins Scholars’ Conference, 2015

July 24-26 saw 64 scholars supported by the Trust attend the annual Canon Collins Scholars’ Conference in Cape Town to present their research in line with the theme “Theories of Change.”

Amongst these were a number of female scientists, who presented critical research in relation to the management of childhood tuberculosis, changing the cancer burden in southern Africa, and strategies for reducing the costs of treatment for methamphetamine users in South Africa to name just a few of the inspiring presentations made during the course of the weekend.

Leah from Zimbabwe presented on catalysis in water as opposed to the use of traditional organic solvents, which are neither environmentally sustainable nor economically viable. Her approach to reducing environmental pollution is a vital contribution to the principles of green chemistry and will minimise problems such as global warming and climate change that are mostly resultant from irresponsible chemical processes. Leah is also one of two winners of a 30,000 ZAR Canon Collins Conference Award to implement an entrepreneurial project for orphans, where she will teach them how to make basic items such as soap using her chemistry skills.

Vuyiswa, a scholar from Swaziland, presented on resorbable biomaterials as bone graft substitutes. Every year, roughly two million patients worldwide are in need of a bone grafting procedure to repair bone defects stemming from a disease or a traumatic event. Vuyiswa’s presentation enabled her to demonstrate the clear need for research of this kind, particularly in relation to a number of infectious diseases present in southern Africa that result in the need for bone grafting and transplants.

Gaby from Mozambique inspired scholars with her research into new vaccines for Rift Valley Fever (RVF) using a mutated and less virulent strain of the virus. With the socio-economic impact of the virus being extremely high in SADC countries, her research is critical for the well-being of thousands of people.

As well as scholar presentations, an inspirational array of speakers including Michael O’Brien Onyeka (Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa), Zackie Achmat (Co-founder of Treatment Action Campaign) and Dorothy Nyambi (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences) provided scholars with a unique opportunity to debate the future of science, research and development on the continent with some of Africa’s most prominent researchers and civil society activists.