Africa’s rising women scientists | SLICE SCIENCE | FULL DOC

40 years ago, a woman scientist and environmental activist created the Green Belt Movement to fight deforestation in her home region in Kenya. In 2004, this woman was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This was the first Nobel Prize ever awarded to an African woman. Her name was Wangari Maathai. Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking so that humanity stops threatening its life support system. 15 years later, more than 35 million trees have been planted throughout the African continent, and Wangari Maathai continues to inspire a whole new generation of women who are involved in science or environmental protection, as those in her area. She was a wonderful lady. Even I'm named after her. I'm called Wangari, and she's my role model. Today there are worthy successors of Wangari Maathai all over the continent, pioneers who are charting new paths. Dynamic, enterprising African women scientists are the new face of a modern Africa that is participating in the great upheavals of our societies. But in this competitive world, they're still underrepresented. We followed three of them, respectively specialists in nanochemistry, molecule biology and astrophysics. Women don't want to pursue further because they haven't had a role model. I'm going to create a scholarship for Europeans to come and study here so that we have a paradigm shift. Being born in the Congo is not a handicap. For me, it's a chance, because there's so much to build. We still have the chance, in our country, to say, I am where I want to be. I can be the first. And that's fantastic. Who are these women? What obstacles did they have to overcome to reach the top of their game? What impact do they have on their community? Will they be able to find concrete solutions to the major challenges of the 21st century? And what if the Einstein of tomorrow were to be an African woman? About 40% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to safe drinking water. Over 40 million people. More than 70 to 80% of diseases in Africa are linked to poor water quality. At Rhodes University in South Africa, a chemist is determined to eradicate this predicament. With a group of students, Professor Tabelo Nyukong is working on an ecological membrane that directly filters water from rivers. A small revolution. Yes, I live there for many years. It's like this. It was in Paris. Today, the mission is to collect some water from a stream not far from the laboratory. Look at her, Sivu. She's going. Be careful, you. It's doable from here. Let's see whether she can go. So we'll just scoop some water out of this river, or this stream, because it's got a mixture of bacteria, all sorts of, all different kinds of bacteria. And then treat that. The students will then use the collected water to test the anti-pollution effect of their filter, under the kind guidance of their professor. I want them to be themselves. I can only guide them, but they must think for themselves. Yeah, because they have to be leaders, and leaders must be responsible, and they must think for themselves and think logically. Yes. No, I'm passionate about my students and what they do. Passionate, determined, creative, Professor Nyukong has won awards from around the world and is recognised for her innovative research in photodynamic therapy associated with chemistry. Why I did chemistry is a long story from university. I could have done anything else. But teachers have a role they don't realise they have, or lecturers. I just like my lecturer. Is that a bad thing? I love the way he taught, and I like the fact that chemistry challenged me. I like to be challenged. I actually did mathematics also when I was in university, to a very high level. I like subjects that challenge my brain, that my brain doesn't rust. After brilliant studies abroad, and despite numerous coveted job proposals, Professor Tabelo Nyukong returned to Africa to participate in the development of the continent. Today, her knowledge attracts students from all over the world who come to her laboratory to study with her. Her strength, combining innovative research with concrete finality in the field. The finality is actually these membranes, planning that in the end they're going to be incorporated into something that can be portable, that can be also cheaper, and be easily distributed to all areas, even like something that can be maybe this small, so that you can just go get your water from the river and purify it there and there, and you can actually just drink it, it will be ready. A patent that could very well change the lives of millions of people, but may take a few more years to see the light of day. Adding to the already impressive number of patents that come out of University of Rhodes, an international award that Professor receives for her work. So what is in here then? No, these are just the graphene ones, I was just trying to purify them. And these are the nitrogen ones? No. I realise that research and being able to really think for myself and continuously create things and think outside of what's already been done was what I enjoyed more than, you know, having to do one thing Monday to Friday. When you teach others what to do, you are learning yourself, you begin to realise how much you know. And let me be honest, I also am learning from my students, that's why I refuse to take credit, because I learn from them, all the time. I'm not the one who gives ideas, they give ideas, and I learn, and I get the awards for it. Ha ha! Her extraordinary personality and her commitment to the cause of women make Professor Tebello-Nyukong unique. She shakes up codes and challenges mindsets in the very closed world of science. As far as women are concerned, and the term science, I wish we could break it up, because women have made great strides in the biological sciences. There are more women who are at the top in the biological sciences. And also we have to realise that even in chemistry, maybe there's more females, actually, even in my group, than males. But what happens is, females still have to start a family. They still have that time when they have to be out because of childbearing and so on. So those are the challenges that we face. A taste for challenges that dates back to her childhood in the heart of a landlocked country in South Africa, Lesotho, a remote land where she grew up and where it all began. Growing up in Lesotho, where I was in the rural part of Lesotho, traditionally it's the boys who look after sheep. But if you don't have boys, if families don't have boys, girls have got to do it too. There's no way out. But many families were doing it. But it is only in the rural areas where I grew up, where this was happening. So we go to school one day, and the school is in the church. And then the next day we go and look after sheep. Sometimes you can go look after sheep and there are also boys there. I don't think at that age you think of yourself as a woman at all. But in retrospect, you realise that you never felt, because I'm a girl, I can't do this. I'm doing what the boys are doing anyway, all the time. You actually become a scientist by just being in the field there, figuring out what is harmful, what is not. Science is virtually understanding who we are, understanding our bodies, understanding our environment, and then probably improving on it. Professor Tabelo Nyukong has dedicated her career to the development of dyes to detect polluants in water. This scientific innovation could prove revolutionary for medicine and the environment. That's her ambition. And this is thanks to the activation of laser beams. Can we use it as a backup? When there are problems, it can take a long time to fix them. To fix, yeah. I don't know, I don't know. But this is a Rolls Royce, because it's spectrophysics. It's the best of all lasers. Prof is known worldwide, and her research is very interesting. I particularly took a liking to her water research, which is where I use laser in my work. So it's for degradation of organic water pollutants, readily common pollutants from industries, as well as for killing bacteria from water streams. So she's been all over, actually. Where have you been? Japan, Mexico, and Canada. In Japan it was where we were learning how to make these catalysts that I was telling you about, the dyes. In Canada it was learning how to make supports for the dyes. So it was finding support materials so that we enhance the reusability of the dyes, as well as the catalysts in general. When we can afford it. South Africa has a number of bilateral agreements. Sometimes this one is trilateral agreements, whereby there can be exchange of manpower between different universities. So I have these agreements, for example, with the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, China, Russia, name it, Canada now, Kenya. So students spend time in another laboratory. I wish I had that when I was young. Passionate about her work, Prof Tabelo Nyukung also knows when to leave her laboratory to share the beauty of her country. We accompany her to Ado Park, an elephant reserve next to the university, where she introduces her students to nature. It could be old. Let me see, how much do they weigh? Do they still write how much the average weight is? They used to write somewhere. And those, they're enjoying the running there. And they eat only grass and they're obese. It's very important for people to realize that our science is as good as anywhere else, or chemistry, whatever it is. And it's also important for our students not to feel things are better anywhere else. We have a lot of scholarships, for example, for our students to go to Europe and everywhere. And I'm going to create a scholarship for Europeans to come and study here. So that we have a paradigm shift. It should be both ways, because we have better, more facilities. It's the same everywhere. My collaborators are all over the world. It's a whole way of thinking that needs to be revisited. In fact, thanks to her many talents, the laboratory at Rhodes University is at the cutting age of technology. But this kind of facility, which requires international partnerships, is still very rare in Africa. In Congo, we have an appointment with another woman of science, who tackles infectious diseases every day. The first cases of this epidemic were detected in January in the coastal city of Pointe-Noire by the National Institute of Biomedical Research of Kinshasa. Since then, the Congolese authorities have followed the evolution of the disease. After brilliant studies abroad, Professor Francine Toumy, much like Professor Nyukong, returned to her home country to found Congo's only medical laboratory, more than 20 years ago. To continue collecting data and establish a mapping of infectious diseases, Professor Francine Toumy, despite the risks, goes to the most infected areas. Oh, do you assist your mother? Yes. How old are you? Twelve years old. Oh, you are already responsible. Oh la la. Did you accompany your mother? There is not only joint pain, but there is also pelvic pain that settles. Ok, ok. You are in good hands. I can see that. The research we conduct is done for the population, for this population, which is subject to different viruses and parasites. And here we can see it very well. When we look at this dense vegetation, we see all the insects and animals that live close to humans. So we understand how important it is to have samples from patients, but also to have collected insects and samples from animals, from rodents, in order to make the link between the infections that we find in the animals and what we find in humans, whether there is transmission or not. So it is fundamental to be here. And that's what it all comes down to. Professor Toumi is much more than a renowned scientist. She's also a visionary. She co-founded the Pandora Project, which sets up a wide network of international scientific collaborations, bringing to the forefront African doctors. The vocation came at the time of my doctorate. I obviously liked this period, where I learned to ask myself questions and to try to understand the why of things that are not in science. And an answer calls for another question. And so I learned the rules of the game, so to speak. But it hasn't always been a smooth journey. Professor Francine Toumi has had to fight traditions and prejudices in a country where roles are still clearly divided. She invites us into her family circle, where they have always supported her. I had six children. The eldest, Francine, was raised by five boys. She learned to read from her brothers. She was very kind, very calm. In any case, she was a very calm girl. She was a girl of character. She has been able to impose herself to this day. That's an example to follow. It's true, we only saw scientists, men, but never women. But this myth is broken. Now it's normal to see women do what men do. What I say to young women is that there should be no limits in the dream. Everything must be allowed in the dream. And above all, I tell them, you may not reach it, but at least you have a direction, a line, a goal. And then I tell them that to reach this goal, the path will be difficult. It's not true to say it's easy. But you have to believe in your dream and in your abilities. And at that moment, you get there. And I tell them, well, it's not just words, because that's what guided me. It is through her hard work and deep convictions that Professor Francine Thoumy has established herself. But contact with local people remains at the heart of her struggle. We return to Poitnoir. Do children also lose their appetite? Absolutely. Oh, the mosquitoes come to kiss you at home. With pleasure, one would say. But the mother has not. You have not been, you have not eaten how much? No. Not yet, or have you already done? No, not yet. So that means you don't care. There are people who bite more than others. We have a different taste. A different smell. More and more, indeed, we see African scientists taking the leadership of large consortiums. Well, and I'm a woman, but it's very important because you can't support alone, well, not alone, but the African knows the needs, his needs. And so, with all the goodwill in the world, you can't help someone against his will, no matter how. It is preferable that the one who has the need can organize what we want to bring to him. So that's a first point. So the African scientific leadership is becoming more and more important. And necessary, not just important, especially necessary. And our non-African colleagues understand this very well. Everything that leaves here ends up in our laboratory and we try to understand everything that is in this blood. Thank you very much. Well, we also say thank you because without these samples we couldn't do anything. These precious samples leave the infected areas and head to the laboratory of the Congolese Medical Research Foundation, located in the heart of the capital. But at the time of the creation of this center, Professor Toumi had had to face one major problem, the absence in Congo of skilled workers to carry out the research he intended to undertake. So Professor Toumi decided to invest in the continuous training of laboratory technicians capable of continuing her ambitious research over the long term. I can assure you that when I was doing my doctorate, I never thought I would have created the foundation. I didn't have this vision or even this idea at all. But at one point I said to myself, my place is in Congo, I have to go there. I don't have a job, but I only know how to do research. There's nothing more difficult. So I said, I'm going to create the instrument that will allow me to conduct research in Congo. When I thought about it, I said to myself, it's completely crazy and ambitious, my God, but I went for it and I took the leadership, almost in spite of myself, but because I had to do it and I didn't have faith in my eyes. So, we start with you. Brigitte, how many samples do you have? We have three samples. One, two, three. Okay. So they come from the surveillance, in the preparation in case of an RDC, because we just have the river that separates us and we were very afraid last year and so we are in a state of maximum vigilance. And now you are testing for Ebola. In Central Africa, it should be noted that compared to all the regions in Africa, it is the least dynamic region scientifically. And I come from Central Africa. And so when you hear people criticizing your region all the time, well, at some point you say to yourself, okay, there are people who are in Congo, it's easy to tell them from afar, maybe there are difficulties that I am not faced with, that I don't know, so it's a bit easy. And from there, I said to myself, I have to go and I will try to do it. And then we'll talk, and then we'll see. And that's what I did with the Foundation. And that's why I'm proud now, because I know it's possible to conduct quality research in Congo. Since those early days, Professor Francine Toumy has come a long way and is now a member of the African Academy of Science. So you can say that she's present in places where you would find a lot of men. She has built her own career, and now she's a reputable person in terms of her being involved not just in the Foundation that she formed in her own country, but in many other broad type of advisory services for many countries, for many organizations, including the Gates Foundation. She's amongst the best of the best on the continent. Because of this, she won the Continental Award in Science. Africa's own Nobel Prize in Science is called the Kwame Nkrumah Continental Prize, and clearly that shows that she's in a different bracket in terms of her accomplishments. Professor Francine Toumy is well aware of the digital revolution that's shaking up the African landscape. Africa plays an important role in promoting women's entrepreneurship. With 27% of women entrepreneurs, Africa is now the world-leading continent. Today we're at the Information and Innovation Technology Show for Digital Women's Day. Oh, that's great! As a woman, scientist and national pride, it's only natural that Professor Francine Toumy is invited to participate in the debate. As far as biomedical research is concerned, we're currently, as Mr. Nkrumah said, facing a revolution with these new innovative technologies. First, in improving the quality of collected data, clinical data, epidemiological data, since there's a link between diseases, I work on infectious diseases, but infectious diseases and the environment. So this better collection of data and data management allows us to anticipate, to model. First, because I've been following you for a long time and I love the work you do. In our hub, we support innovative business ideas. So we offer them a space to work, training, mentoring and coaching to enable these ideas to emerge and to solve problems in Kinshasa while supporting innovation and technology. The barrier for start-ups and digital today in countries like the RDC is that internet access isn't always reliable everywhere, but above all, it's very expensive. Their start-up company called Odja tackles the problems of insecurity in Kinshasa's transport system, especially for women. It's a platform that will enable everyone, either through optimized data or through text messages, to check their taxi all day long. We've noticed that there's under-representation of women in the digital sector. So we'd like to encourage young girls to get interested, to train them to become actresses in the digital sector. Today, it's Kinshasa. Tomorrow, it'll be Douala. The day after, it might even be a city like Venezuela. We've been asked to launch a new diner. So it's African innovation but exported abroad. In recent years, large multinationals have chosen Nairobi to establish themselves on the continent. New technological companies are worth nearly $1 billion, or 2.5% of Kenya's GDP, which is the highest of the continent. Yvonne Borou is a scientist, businesswoman and member of the Next Einstein Forum, who tells us about the Silicon Savannah, the place of all innovations that hopes to compete one day with the American Silicon Valley. We call Kenya the Silicon Savannah because we're in the savannah, of course, and also because it's a real innovation hub in East Africa. So there's a mine of knowledge in the region that has a multiplier effect for the countries around us. If we've become like this, it's not because one day we were the smartest people in the world. It's because there was, from the start, an investment in education. And so I think these investments in basic education were very important to create this ecosystem of technology and innovation in this country and in the region as well. Major international companies and renowned foundations have long understood the role that women scientists play in the newfound dynamics of the continent. In Nairobi, for the first time, the most promising PhD students and post-doctorates are gathered for the L'Oréal UNESCO Prize for Women in Science, which aims to encourage them in their research and help them overcome the difficulties they face as a minority. An opportunity to exchange about the hardships, but also the opportunities a scientific career has to offer them. This kind of initiative is good enough to be able to encourage and support women, especially in Africa. Women in Africa in those days have been pushed to the back in the sense that we are meant for teaching, we are meant for marriage. Once the marriage is there, we don't have time for a career again. I did my chemistry and physics, but when I changed to physics, I found that it's like a man's world. Only few women are there, and I found that as a woman, you have to fight to be recognized. You have to fight to be heard. I mean, when you see the statistics, you see that they say you have a lower percentage of females and higher percentage of men and all that. So it seems like people don't want to get in. Some people, even from young primary school, as it's called in my place, they feel it's difficult, they feel it's for the boys, and then it's not for you. That notion is just there. I think that science needs more young blood and more females. We have a disparity of getting enough females in physics, especially, and I think that the more different minds that we have in a group, the more creative that group can be. Being a woman in science has been an interesting journey, and I love it because it's the space where very few people are in, and I want to be one of those people who leave a mark, become a role model for others to see that, yes, we can pursue this. I have this desire to just show other girls that, no, you can do it. I think it means that you're not afraid to take on challenges. You're not afraid of what the future holds. And it provides an opportunity for you to make incredible discoveries, discoveries that can make a positive impact on the lives of other people. Everywhere, this new generation is taking the lead. Even in areas where they are least expected. This is the case of Zahra Ranjia Manakoto, an astrophysicist from Madagascar who, at the young age of 34, has managed to introduce her country, one of the poorest countries in the world, into the very closed circle of the International Astronomical Union. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, where she's making her mark, Zahra returns to her country on a regular basis to accompany students from the University of Antananarivo, where she studied herself. We accompany Zahra on the field, where this radio telescope, still under construction, will one day be part of the world's largest network of radio telescopes. And that's the challenge she's set herself. It's nice to be back here, but it's also reminder that there are a lot of work that awaits for us as children, because now you have the materials in front of you. By the time you graduate, hopefully it will be converted and we can use it to do more research. When I come here, I feel proud that I'm part of a very big project, and it's not everyone who has the opportunity to be part of such a project, especially given my background. I would never have thought that one day I can be at the forefront of such a big project and even lead the students to accomplish and join the team. Does any of you know what a star cluster is? I just want to ask a question. In which time do we call it a star cluster and in which time do we call it a galaxy? There are three different things. There are stars, star clusters, and galaxies. Any star or star clusters are most likely hosted by a galaxy, but of course there are also stars and star clusters that live in the field. Each of these galaxies, we extract the star clusters, we measure their luminosity, how bright they are, and we attempt to derive their mass, how massive the star clusters and what's approximately their age. New types of star clusters that were only discovered 20 years ago, which means that there are still a lot of questions that are unanswered. So if we can understand the superstar clusters, we will ultimately understand more our universe. The place of astronomy in Madagascar is seen as a luxury and in many African countries, simply because there are still so many basic needs such as health issues, what to eat tomorrow. Like in Madagascar, many people live with $2 and $2 per day. So why would they care about something that is pulsating in the sky if there is nothing on their plate? But when you look at astronomy, you should always think of the long-term plans because once you get involved in astronomy, you will, the more the country is faced, ultimately in 10, 20 years, infrastructure will be built, data needs to be transferred, which means that internet connections and everything, yes, they will be helpful in research, but that can also be used in communication. When I'm here, I definitely want one day to come back and be at the observatory under the control room and move this big telescope in Madagascar. That's one of my dreams. Zahra takes the opportunity to visit her former physics teacher who helped her start a career on the international scene. An important step for her, but not that easy to make at a time when English had not yet become her language of choice. Ah! I love it. It's a must. I don't like you very much. At a time when the gender approach is taken by everyone, I think it's good to know that there are women who can do what men can do. So that's what Zahra showed by trying to be excellent at astronomy. And to be excellent, she's really excellent. I'm proud of her. Thank you very much. It touches me, coming from someone who I really... What is my tower? I was really afraid to see people like that. It touches me. It pushes me to do my best, to break the barriers. It's upscale. Zahra continues to break down barriers and hopes to end the prejudices that are still entrenched on the continent. In my spare time, I also love to inspire young women and that is why I founded the Kiala STEM Association. Kiala, which is a typical word to determine women, and STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Everything starts with curiosity and then comes the passion. On the other hand, the achievements of many scientists and their contributions must inspire the younger generation. The whole vision came ever since I left the country because sometimes, as I did my study, I kind of getting lost. I didn't have a role model and I wanted to be that role model for those girls. So through an association like Kiala STEM, we try to push the women that they can do anything they want to as long as they have the dream. Zahra has found a way to pass on her passion for astronomy and women's rights. While she's home, she also visits her proud parents. I'm in the second year. Are you a scientist? Yes, I'm in the second year. I'm in the third year. I'm in the first year. I'm in the sixth year. How are you? I'm fine, thank you. In elementary school, especially in the ninth grade, she had an average of 19.5 out of 20. In high school, we buy her supplies. She takes the new notebooks. She always picks up the pens. We're proud to have Zahra because she was a bit shy in her childhood. But now, it's completely different. For Zahra, education and school are essential for finding her way. Do you remember when you first met me? My parents had to come because I was a bit... Without teachers, education is the basis. I really believe that thanks to all the teachers, from the twelfth grade, who shaped my way of thinking and everything I use for the good of my work. So, thank you very much. You're welcome. Thank you very much. Every time I come to Madagascar, I do a little awareness-raising, but especially with the second and first-year students because it's the class where everything is at stake. Will she become a scientist or a writer? Sometimes, it's a lack of confidence to make a decision, and that's when awareness-raising is important. The more you teach, the more you transmit, the more you are an expert in your field. And that's the thing everyone should remember, that you don't just learn and keep it to yourself. Go out there. There are so many people that are thirsty for your knowledge. Just go there, get your team, because there are so many passionate people just like you. Identify it, look for an objective together, a vision together, and make a change in your community. Zahra's motivation is first and foremost that of the heart. She's proud to be from Madagascar, and today she wants to give back what she received. When I grew up in Madagascar, as a child, I always remember that I was writing a dictionary. We didn't have one. My grandfather did have one, but he loved playing Scrabble, which means he needed a dictionary with him constantly. But myself, too, I really wanted to learn French, so I kept borrowing his dictionary. At a certain point, he just yelled at me that I needed it. So each time I borrowed, I started to write down, like, let me have my own dictionary. Let me use just, like, a very plain sheet, and start from A, B. I never finished my dictionary, but I had this perception that I want to have my own. Yeah. It is important that we reach to so many more people, especially those in remote and rural areas, because if we inspire a kid that there are so many things that you can do by looking at the sky, surely she or he may think, OK, I need to invest more and be serious in the education, not just, like, wake up and I'm doing it because my parents tell me to do it, but have a purpose in whatever you do at an early age. In 2018, Zahra participated for the first time in a symposium organised by the world-renowned International Astronomical Union on behalf of her country. Madagascar was officially entering the very closed circle of countries that govern the world of stars and try to answer questions of the laws of the universe. When you say universe, we are just this tiny little person, and by thinking of that, we should humble ourselves and we should really be grateful that that's the world of astronomy. There are a lot to study out there, because just this little patch of the sky we see here, there are thousands of stars and then galaxies, hundreds of galaxies. Right now, as you are talking, galaxies are colliding light-years away, so we will never run out of things to do. We just need more new researchers to help to unravel the mystery of the universe. It has a lot that we can discover. Yes, there is still so much to discover and so much to do on our planet. Today, Africa is becoming a generator of knowledge, innovation and creativity. The knowledge-based development model is a new territory. Having a young, creative, skilled and educated population, where women conquer their place in science, can lead to a large-scale transformation of the continent. And what if the new Einstein were indeed an African woman? Only the future will tell.