If You Can See It, You Can Be It

Role models are crucial to inspire interest and increase participation in STEM fields, particularly for underrepresented groups such as women and students with disabilities.

The need to close the gender gap can’t be emphasised enough.

The South African Astronomical Observatory’s (NRF-SAAO) Girls in STEM Women’s Day is an annual event which started in 2016.This year’s event showcased diverse female role models in STEM fields, where young scientists from various NRF business units and other universities shared their journeys and their research with the participation of girls from various high schools around Cape Town. These girls were motivated and inspired by young female scientists in multiple STEM fields, including astronomy, software engineering, chemistry, computer science, applied science, and food science technology.

The programme director, Dr Lusani Vhangani, is in the NRF Black Academic Advancement Programme (BAAP) post-PhD 2024 – 2026. The speakers were PhD candidate astronomer, Tombo Fitahiana Rarivoarinoro (UCT/NRF-SAAO); software engineer, Zanele Kukuma (NRF-SARAO); computer scientist, Phelokazi Dube (NRF-SAAO); applied scientist, Nothemba Silwana; Moneah Monyethabeng, lecturer at CPUT (NRF BAAP PhD track 2025 – 2028); and PhD chemistry candidate, Saphokazi Timakwe.

The highlight of the day was Saphokazi Timakwe, who was an NRF bursary student for her Master’s degree. She motivated learners to be passionate about their studies by sharing her achievements as she passed her Honours degree cum laude and her Master’s degree summa cum laude.

NRF Honours bursary holders, Nombulelo Madzimbamuto, Thabile Biyela, and Thembisile Nkosi from CPUT, expressed gratitude to the NRF by volunteering to wow girl learners with a live demonstration of microscopy and food analysis.