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SPECIAL EDITION #3SCIENCESTARS

WOMEN IN SCIENCEAWARDS 2013

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WOMEN NURTURING SCIENCE

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Foreword Words of Encouragement to

Women in Science

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Celebrating our Champions

A Shining Beacon in Science

Famous Female Inventors

5Science Stars Special Edition 3 | www.sciencestars.co.za

Dr. Daphney Singo-Bucher

Encouraging and keeping women in science is not an easy task. I know this first-hand especially since I am part of a “small” num-ber of female, black scientists out there. We all fight against ‘tired’ stereotypes: “Women are not as good as men at math and science” or “women are not interested in science” or “women are trained to like pretty, colorful things from birth, and men are trained to like neutral palettes or “boy” colors.

To some extent it is true that often times we are subconsciously turned off by the “mechanical” look of science laboratories BUT this is not to imply that women are inherently superficial or that beauty should matter. It is mainly because, sometimes whether we mean to or not we all carry societal baggage. Many of us can relate to battling against family responsibility, lack of resources and career progress. Statistics show that one of every five physics PhDs is earned by a woman but it does not prevent or limit us women from pushing our-selves far beyond expectations.

Case in point: women are still under-represented in the quantitative sciences. While valid reasons exist to justify this very true fact how-ever the question remains: how do we change this? I am well aware that solving the “woman problem” in science will take time but we have to take into account that the numbers from MSc to PhD univer-sally drop by factor 2 for female students. Let’s turn these numbers around. I know we can do this. I say, “forget the stereotype, roll up your sleeves and dig deep in yourself”.

In my case I was drawn to physics because I was fascinated by the power of the nucleus - such a small, invisible “thing” yet it carries great power that is harnessed to improve our lives. I worked hard and sacrificed a lot in order to achieve my goal of becoming a nuclear physicist. Despite all that, I love my work. I am perpetually fascinated by physics and I remain inspired by others in the field. If you know your goal then the recipe is simple: Focus, Dedication, Perseverance and Hard work. Just keep in mind that great achieve-ment comes with some sacrifice!

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FOREWORD teamScience Stars

Nuclear Physics

Words of encouragement to women in science


The Women in Science Awards are an initiative of the

South African Department of Science and Technology.

The awards go to distinguished women and young

women in the life sciences, social sciences and humanities,

to researchers and emerging researchers in violence against

women and to recipients of master’s and doctoral degrees.

This celebration of our female champions has become a

remarkable and outstanding feature on our calendar because

it coincides with South Africa’s celebration of Women’s Month,

building on the excitement of another notable event in our

countries science awareness calendar, the National Science

Week, which took place from 29 July to 2 August.

The awards were initiated by The Department of Science and

Technology in 2003 to honour female scientists and research-

ers. The winners of these awards are profiled and celebrated as

role models for young female scientists and they are there to

prove to you that science is not an area reserved only for men,

because women can not only be equally as good as men but at

times even better than their male counterparts.

In other words the sky is the limit and your gender does not

affect how you perform in the sciences as long as you are

focused and determined.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom

announced 2013’s winners at a glitzy Women in Science Awards

winners’ gala dinner in Johannesburg at the Hilton Hotel, on the

16th of August. Whoever thought scientists are always confined

to labs and corridors is clearly wrong. Scientists also go to

glitzy ceremonies and the world celebrates their expertise.

The 2013 winners will positively contribute to research and

knowledge and the finalists and winners will also continue to

develop the next generation of researchers through mentoring

younger scientists, especially female scientists.

CategoriesThe 2013 awards were made in the category within “The Role

of Science and Research against Violence towards Women”. This

aligned to the 2013 theme for the United Nations Commission

on the Status of Women which is “the elimination and preven-

tion of all forms of violence against women and girls”.

The awards where within the life sciences and humanities

categories and included distinguished female scientists, distin-

guished young women in science, fellowships and Tata Africa

Scholarships for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology

and Research and innovation that has contributed to combating

violence against women (this was a once off category specially

accommodated for the 2013 edition of the awards).

WinnersA handful of female scientists and upcoming scientists won

awards at the 2013 edition. We have a number of them listed

although it is by all means not all of them. Runner-up’s were

The 2013 Women in Science Awards

CELEbrATINg OUR chAmpiOns

also not included in this list.

Among the top winners was Prof. Soraya Seedat, who was the

2013 year’s winner in the Distinguished Women in the Life

Sciences category. Prof Seedat is a Professor of Psychiatry and

the Executive Head of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University. She

developed a multifaceted, collaborative research and postgradu-

ate training programme of excellence in post-traumatic stress dis-

order. This programme brings together basic and clinical neurosci-

ence, with the overarching goal of furthering understanding of

the aetiology and patho-physiology of this disorder. A very strong

and essential area in the sciences

Prof. Kholeka Moloi was this year’s winner in the Distinguished

Women in the Social Sciences and Humanities category. She is a

highly sought-after motivational speaker and currently Professor

of Education in the Faculty of Human Sciences at the Vaal

University of Technology.

She has extensive experience in teaching and research in educa-

tional leadership and management. She is also a specialist in the

learning organisations and change management sector. This out-

lines her very talented and diverse capabilities.

Prof. Mpfariseni Budeli was this years winner in the Distinguished

Young Women in the Social Sciences and Humanities award. This

special woman is the first black South African woman to attain

a PhD in Commercial Law at a previously white academic insti-

tution. Prof. Budeli is currently Professor of Labour Law in the

Department of Mercantile Law at the University of South Africa

(UNISA), making her the first black woman in South Africa to be

a full professor of law at the university. Truly remarkable and this

goes on to show you that with belief and hard work anything is

possible.

Prof. Nareadi Phasha was this years winner in the, Distinguished

Researcher, Violance against Women category. Her responsibili-

ties include preparing educators to teach learners who face

various challenges that interfere with learning in special and

inclusive educational settings.She has published her work in 24

journal articles and nine book chapters. She previously supervised

five masters and one PhD student and is currently supervising

two master’s and one PhD student.

Vuyolwethu Siyo, ICGEB PhD student in the Cancer Molecular

and Cell Biology lab at ICGEB Cape Town, was also among this

year’s winners of the 2013 WISA Awards as recipient of a Tata

scholarship for a doctoral degree. The Tata Africa awards study

grants to women currently involved in full-time research study

leading to a master’s or doctoral degree in an area where the

participation of women is traditionally low.

Siyo received her MSc at ICGEB Cape Town earlier this year and

her current research investigates the molecular mechanisms

employed by the anticancer compound bisPMB in cancer cells.

She aims is to characterise the pathways activated by bisPMB

in pursuit of improving the efficacy of known anticancer drugs

that activate complementary pathways through combination

treatment.

Congratulations to all the winners and runner-up’s of the 2013

Women in Science Awards Edition. You are truly Science Stars! We

hope our young readers will be receiving some of these special

prizes one day.‘‘She has published her work in 24 journal articles and nine book chapters”

mINISTEr OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOgY DErEk HANEkOm PrESENTINg AN AwArD

FEATURE


FEATURE

Life Sciences

wOmEN IN SCIENCE AWARDs WinnERs 2013

Life Sciences

Social SciencesAnd Humanities

Young Women In The Life Sciences

Researcher: ViolenceAgainst Women

Young Women InThe Social SciencesAnd Humanities

Emerging Researcher: Violence Against Women

Prof Lynn Morris2nd runner-upProf Amanda Gouws

2nd runner-up

Prof Mpfariseni BudeliWinner

Elisabet le Roux1st runner-up

Prof WandaMarkotter1st runner-up

Prof Deevia BhanaFirst runner-up

Dr Marieka GryzenhoutWinner

Prof Lillian ArtzSecond runner-up

Prof KholekaConstance Moloi

Winner

Prof Karina Mostert

1st runner-up

Prof Vishanthie Sewpaul

1st runner-up

Dr ChristinaThobakgale2nd runner-up

ProfessorNareadi Phasha

Winner

Prof Elmarie Slabbert

2nd runner-up

Dr MaheshvariNaiduWinner

Prof Maryke Labuschagne1st runner-up

Prof Soraya SeedatWinner


PROFILE

2005 is the year Dr Thifhelimbilu Daphney Singo solidified her dream. Following incessant talks of imminent

rolling electricity black outs by power regulator Eskom, the majority dreaded the load shedding and the dark nights that would come with it. It was a problem in the eyes of some, but for Daphney, it was an inspirational darkness that had hope and light at the end.She was motivated to undertake a study in nuclear physics, a discipline that would aid the generation of electricity using safe nuclear energyIt was a dream Daphney pursued. She graduated from Stellenbosch University and is currently working on her Post Doctorate at iThemba labs. Her PhD was about finding a way to measure the temperature of a nuclear reactor through building a nuclear reactor – at the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor in Pretoria. Measuring temperature of the reactor is a complex and dangerous undertaking that requires an equal amount of in-depth sophistication. Very high temperature and radiation from the reactor makes it very difficult to put something, like a thermometer to measure temperature. Daphney worked on a solution -- building a “detector” that can measure radiation (neutrons and gamma rays that are emitted from the nuclear reaction inside the reactor) and correlate it to the temperature. And she successfully did that. Despite the complicated discipline Daphney now pursues, she is of humble beginnings and a background similar to you and I.“I was born in Ngwenani Ha Mapholi in

Prof WandaMarkotter1st runner-up

Dr Marieka GryzenhoutWinner

A SHININg bEAcOn in sciEncE

Leading From The Front


Tell yourself that whatever difficulties you are going through are not permanent. In Venda they say: ‘Mana a mutukana a si vhu matshelo ha we.’

Venda, Limpopo province. I began school at Pfano primary and middle primary at Dambavhusha.” Middle school is where she developed an interest in Maths and Science. She later went to Tshadama High School where she elected to further her maths and science and she passed her matric from Tshivhase Primary school in 2000.At the time, her mother worked as a domestic worker. She is the youngest of four children. Growing up was difficult. “And I felt I could change the situation at home by studying. If you study and go to university you will get a good job,” she says.

After high school she went to the University of the North West in Mafikeng. The plan was to do computer science but she realised the institution’s programme was not registered. She continued with a straight BSc in maths and science. Although university was tough at first she was inspired and motivated by her maths lecturer Professor Kambule.At the time the University of the North West was the most affordable tertiary institution and Daphney heard about the government financial aid package available for students. All she had to pay was R2750 for accommodation and registration. By that time her mother was no longer a domestic worker and was selling mahafhe or African opaque beer. The mahafhe

proceeds, together with a loan from a friend managed to secure her a place at the university.When she completed her first degree in Mathematics, Daphney heard about the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in 2005 from Dr katashaya.It was just what she wanted at the time, to learn more and expand her knowledge on mathematics without worrying about tuition fees, accommodation and other expenses. She set off to Cape Town by flight, he first time flying. “So I applied and I was accepted and when I arrived I found that I was the only South African woman studying at AIMS.” After AIMS she went to the University of Cape Town (UCT) to do her MSc Experimental Nuclear Physics.Daphney is reaping the successes of hard work and her mother no longer sells mahafhe.Last year she built her mother a comfortable home in Ngwenani Ya Ha Mapoli where she is enjoying her retirement.She has travelled to European countries like Russia, and Slovakia to attend conferences and summer school - representing South Africa. Daphney is also proud of the opportunity she got to give a talk at the Technology, Entertainment and Design TED 2010 conference in Long Beach California, USA. The talk motivated Google to donate around R7 million to AIMS. She also got the opportunity to dine and chat with Will Smith - the well-known movie star. She also got the opportunity to meet former South African president Nelson Mandela in March 2007 through the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.Her vision is to see many young South Africans pursuing studies to Master or PhD level. This, she believes will help develop the country and solve the current challenges.

‘‘I remember my mother’s phrase: pfunzo ndi yone munna eneanga si ni tutshele – ‘Education is the man that will never leave you!’ ’’

“ ”PROFILE


WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Not only are they strong, loving, caring and beautiful but they are also very intelligent.

FAmOuS FEmALE

invEntORs

We love them, respect them and frankly cannot do without them. Not only are they strong, loving, caring and beautiful, but they are also

very intelligent. Women have invented so much but unfortunately this never gets mentioned. We have collected some of the top ten female inventors the world has seen. Trust me we have more than ten, prob-ably closer to a 100. If we would put them all down we would have to write books. So these are 10 of the most recent modern female inventors.


1 Mary Anderson Windshield wipers

We have all driven in heavy weather conditions, especially the terrible rain. You might have been in a bus, car or flying in a plane. Did you know that if it wasn’t for Mary Anderson who invented the windshield wipers life would have been quite difficult? Mary got the idea after noticing how drivers in New York City had to open their car windows whenever it was raining in order to see ahead. The genius came up with the idea and the rest is history. She got a patent for her device in 1903.

2 Barbara AskinsInventor of the new film developing method

The mother of two was not just an amazing mother to her children but also a brilliant chemist. What is more interesting is that she began her career as a teacher, but pushed herself to the limits and ended up working for the NASA where she was working on a special project. In the process she actually discovered a new way of enhancing images and negatives even after they were developed. Thanks to Barbara we are now able to restore old photographs and improve the clarity of x rays. She was honoured as the National Inventor of the year in 1978 in the United States of America.

3 Patricia Billings Invention of Geobond

he mother of two was not just an amazing mother to her children but also a brilliant chemist. What is more interesting is that she began her career as a teacher, but pushed herself to the limits and ended up working for the NASA where she was working on a special project. In the process she actually discovered a new way of enhancing images and negatives even after they were developed. Thanks to Barbara we are now able to restore old photographs and improve the clarity of x

rays. She was honoured as the National Inventor of the year in 1978 in the United States of America.

4 Mario Donovan Inventor of disposable diapers

The mother of two was not just an amazing mother to her children but also a brilliant chemist. What is more interesting is that she began her career as a teacher, but pushed herself to the limits and ended up working for the NASA where she was working on a special project. In the process she actually discovered a new way of enhancing images and negatives

WINDOWSHIELD WIPERS invented by Mary Anderson

BARBIE DOLLInvented by Mary Anderson

WOMEN IN SCIENCE


even after they were developed. Thanks to Barbara we are now able to restore old photographs and improve the clarity of x rays. She was honoured as the National Inventor of the year in 1978 in the United States of America.

5 Ruth Handler Barbie Doll Inventions

Most of us have either seen them, played with them or bought them for someone. Barbie dolls are loved all over the world. It is only because of the genius of this woman so many of us have had a reason to smile. While watching her daughter play with paper dolls, Ruth Handler noticed that she and her friends used the dolls to act out the future rather than the present. So, she set out to invent a grown-up, three-dimensional doll that girls could use to act out their dreams. This, of course, included the presence of breasts (and what many would later call “unrealistic body proportions”). The female inventor named her new Barbie doll invention after the nickname of her daughter Barbara. Later on, a male counterpart doll would be named after her son: Ken.She created a successful company that made the list of the top 500 companies in the world through her invention. More impressively Ruth also survived breast cancer and created another company that manufactured fake breast models for women who had suffered from breast cancer. One word – wow!!

6 Dr Grace Murray Hopper COBOL Computer Language

So we all think computers know everything right. They understand how we want them to operate just by clicking a button. Well someone has to figure out how to make them understand what we want right, yes – well, enter Dr Grace Murray Hopper. The woman who invented computer language. They say she was a curious child. Who at the age

of seven dismantled her alarm clock to figure out how it worked, but was unable to reassemble it. By the time her mother figured out what she had been up to, the young Grace Hopper had gone through seven clocks in the house. This intellectual curiosity would later play an integral part in earning Hopper a place among the ranks of the most famous women inventors.As she grew up, Grace’s parents encouraged her to pursue her educational ambitions. At Vassar College, she obtained a B.A. in mathematics and physics. She continued her education at Yale University by completing a masters and Ph.D. in mathematics. She won numerous awards for her career as a famous female inventor, including the National Medal of Technology, which was presented to her in 1991 by President George Bush. By the time she passed away on January 1, 1992, Dr. Hopper had received honorary degrees from thirty

universities. Is that brilliant or what!

7 Mary Phelps Jacob Inventor of the Modern BrassiereMost of us have either seen them, played with them or bought them for someone.

Barbie dolls are loved all over the world. It is only because of the genius of this woman so many of us have had a reason to smile. While watching her daughter play with paper dolls, Ruth Handler noticed that she and her friends used the dolls to act out the future rather than the present. So, she set out to invent a grown-up, three-dimensional doll that girls could use to act out their dreams. This, of course, included the presence of breasts (and what many would later call “unrealistic body proportions”). The female inventor named her new Barbie doll invention after the nickname of her daughter Barbara.

8 Stephanie Kwolek Inventor of Kevlar

Did you know that a material stronger than metal exists. Yes stronger than gold which is also a metal by the way. This is all thanks to Stephanie. One of the first female research chemists, she first gained national recognition in 1960 for her work with long molecule chains at low temperatures. In 1971, Kwolek’s further analysis culminated in an important discovery of a liquid crystalline polymer solution. Its exceptional strength and stiffness led to the invention of Kevlar, a synthetic material that is five times as strong as steel.Kevlar is resistant to wear, corrosion and flames, and it is the main ingredient in the production of bulletproof vests, which have become invaluable to soldiers and law enforcement officers. Furthermore, Kevlar is used in dozens of other products, including skis, safety helmets, hiking and camping gear, and suspension bridge cables. So maybe we should stop saying ‘the man of steel’ and actually just say ‘the woman of steel’ heh.

Dr Grace Murray Hopper Invented by Mary Anderson

WOMEN IN SCIENCE


10 Rachel Zimmerman Inventor of the Blissymbol Printer

Finally my personal favourite. This is my favourite not only because this invention has helped millions of disabled people but also because it was invented by a 12 year old school student at the time, Rachel Zimmerman. Her invention helped people who had difficulty communicating. The Canadian 12year old created a software program using Blissymbols: symbols that enable non-speaking people, such as those with severe physical disabilities like cerebral palsy, to communicate.The program user communicates by pointing to various symbols on a page or board through the use of a special touch pad. When the user touches the symbols, Zimmerman’s “Blissymbol Printer” translates them into a written language. In this way, the user can record his or her thoughts or communicate via e-mail.Zimmerman’s system of communication started out as a project for a school science fair, but it ended up competing at the World Exhibition of Achievement of Young Inventors, winning a silver medal at the Canada-wide contest. The program also won the YTV Television Youth Achievement Award. Rachel went on to study physics and space studies in college and now works for ‘The Planetary Society in California’, where she teaches people about space exploration. Just shows you that age is indeed a number.

9 Dr Giuliana Tesoro Fibre and textile chemistry

Did you know that there was a famous female inventor who obtained more than one hundred and twenty-five patents? Yes over one hundred and twenty-five, which basically means she invented over one hundred and twenty-five aspects in the fibre and textile industry. Her name was Giuliana Tesoro, and she helped to make great strides in the field of fibre and textile chemistry.With a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Yale University, she was able to work in many areas of chemistry for industrial companies. She also held a position as a research professor at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, New York.Through her work and research, she developed processes to prevent static accumulation in synthetic fibres, designed flame-resistant fibres, pioneered improved permanent press properties for textiles and discovered ways to make new manufacturing projects run at peak operation and efficiency. Tesoro held her more than one hundred twenty-five patents in areas related to organic compounds and textile processing. Am personally motivated at this stage.

“So next time we are told boys are more intelligent than girls we should think twice. To close the debate without wasting any energy just ask; How many boys have invented more than one hun-dred and twenty five new aspects huh? Then see if the debate continues. ”

Blissymbol Printer Invented by Racheal Zimmerman

WOMEN IN SCIENCE

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