Meet South African Scientist, Pelly Malebe, developing genetic markers for drought tolerance

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Pelly Malebe is a PhD candidate in Biotechnology at the University of Pretoria, whose current research focuses on identifying and developing genetic markers for drought tolerance and yield in crop. The importance of such research is linked to her understanding that the genetic basis of drought tolerance may impact on food and job security in Africa.Malebe was the recipient of the Department of Science and Technology Women in Science Doctoral Fellowship in 2013 and currently has a Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products Network PhD Fellowship. In 2017, she was selected as the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Ambassador for South Africa.NEF is an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Robert Bosch Stiftung, and a platform that connects science, society and policy in Africa and the rest of the world – with the goal to leverage science for human development globally. 

"I was born in a village in Limpopo called Maseven. There were no nursery schools at that time. I think I was a bit of a handful because my mother took me to grade 1 at the age of 4 years. When my father had an opportunity to take us to schools in town, he was told I was too young for grade 2 and I had to go back to nursery school."

"One of my oldest memories was me writing on the walls at my parent’s house, mimicking the teacher. Like most children, I have never really been a fan of school. But, I have always had a passion for learning and acquiring knowledge. I went on to study BSc Human Genetics at the University of Pretoria. I then completed a BSc honours degree in Biotechnology. My passion for acquiring knowledge grew, and I remained in academia until I obtained an MSc in Biotechnology. I am currently enrolled at the University of Pretoria as a PhD candidate."

• Tell us about the work that you do, and how you think it is/will be making an impact in the society you find yourself in.

"My research focus is on identifying and developing genetic markers for drought tolerance and yield on the tea plant. These biotechnology tools can be applied to other crop research. My interest lies in identifying ways to increase food security. The threat to food security has become a reality in South Africa as we experienced our worst drought in December 2016. Currently the Western Cape (a province within South Africa) is experiencing a water crises. I am interested in increasing the understanding of the genetic basis of drought tolerance and yield in the tea plant. Ultimately, research such as this has the potential to impact on food security, through breeding of drought-tolerant crop varieties."

• You were selected as the Next Einstein Forum Ambassador for South Africa. How does this make you feel? And what does this mean for you and South Africa?

"I was the Next Einstein Forum Ambassador for South Africa in 2016 and 2017. This has been both an honour and a privilege to be part of such a great initiative and to represent my country. The Next Einstein Forum is a global platform that brings Africa on to the global science and innovate stage: through its biennial NEF Global Gathering, the Next Einstein Forum is bringing the global scientific community to Africa to discuss how science, technology, engineering and mathematics can provide solutions to global challenges. I have always been and will always remain and advocate for “African solutions for African problems”. I believe that we should define what development means for us as a continent and what direction we wish to grow in. We have great untapped talent within our land. We should continue to nurture our knowledge economy."

• What inspired your passion for genetics and biotechnology?

"As a young girl I remember having so many questions and a few answers. I have always wanted to know why people look the way they do. Why I have my mother’s lips and father’s eyes. I remember in high-school when my biology teacher first introduced me to DNA. I found that most of the answers to my questions could be found in textbooks and on a computer screen. That is what led to my interest in genetics and biotechnology."

• What are some of the major developments in genetics in South Africa?

"The South African government, educational and industrial leaders are working together to build the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) talent pipeline needed to solve global problems. Success in cultivating the next generation of STEM talents depends on collaboration among many stakeholders. There is a need to train the next generation of scientists and technologists to sustain growth in emerging economies. There is also a need for businesses and the private sector to invest in STEM talent to solve complex challenges. Biotechnology is viewed as a scarce skill in South Africa."

• What makes you proud about your journey so far?

"I recently became a mom, July 2017. Tackling motherhood and building a career has proved itself to be the greatest and most rewarding challenge of my life. I think as a working mother you are constantly filled with guilt. If you put too much time into work, you may feel guilty that you are neglecting the young person you have brought into this world. If you invest time with your child, you may feel that you are not making the strides in your career that you would have made. I am learning each day, to live a balanced life. I am proud to say that I am now a morning person, my son has taught me to be that. I wake up to his beaming bright smile and I cease the day! I owe it to myself to fulfil all my dreams, and that includes being happy."[/spb_text_block]

Dr. Mmaki Jantjies - One of South Africa's admirable technology thought leaders

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Dr. Mmaki Jantjies is currently the Head of the Information Systems department at the University of the Western Cape. She previously served as a Head of Department at the North West University - being one of the youngest academics to have headed that department.Dr. Mmaki Jantjies became one of the first and youngest black female PhD graduates in computer science, and has since continued to contribute to this field, developing technology which addresses South African context challenges. In 2016, she was listed as one of the Mozilla top 50 people in the world making the internet a better place.Dr. Jantjies is passionate about youth education and works with various national and international NGOs to up-skill teachers in high schools with ICT skills, to use in classrooms. She also mentors graduate students to open and run technology clubs in underprivileged schools in South Africa with most of the clubs focusing on training young women and girls. (Source: Inspiring Fifty)

"I am one of four children and was blessed to be raised by parents who had so much faith in education, particularly mathematics and science education. And so my high school subject choices where physical sciences and mathematics and I was fortunate enough to also do computer science as a subject in high school. This influenced my career path decision as I was always intrigued by the solutions that computer systems could bring in an organisation and in a community."

• When did you realise you had a passion for technology?

"I realised early on in my life after completing high school during the technology boom, the lack of female representation in the field, and I enjoyed the challenge that came with designing and developing a computer programme. I think this was influenced by growing up amongst boys. I was adamant that they would not outshine me as we all had to study science and computing subjects in school."

• You became one of the first and youngest black female PhD graduates in computer science, in South Africa. What motivated you to pursue this?

"In the previous South African government, black people were only allowed to go into nursing and teaching professions. Many of my family members were thus teachers. I think coming from a family of teachers, continuous education was such a fundamental of my growth. My partner is also so passionate about education and thus also played a role. I also fell in love with research as I continued my studies and felt that black voices in research were lacking. Research drives innovation, it drives policy, it drives thought leadership, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of the technology thought leadership in my country."

• What one accomplishment achieved are you most proud of, and why?

"I think for me, inspiring and influencing young children to consider a career or start a business in tech and science as a whole, particularly children of colour, is what excites me. If I can be that representation that I lacked when growing up to young children to actually pursue fields which our ancestors could only yearn for, this is what makes me proud."

• The objective of technology is to make life better, faster, smarter or less expensive. We leverage technology to improve processes. Tell us about a recent project you are working on using technology to solve challenges in South Africa.

"I'm currently working on a MOOC project to develop content for teachers who want to introduce technology in schools. I think that if we can up-skill and empower teachers to have a passion in tech regardless of their background of specialisation, we can see an increase in the use of basic technology in classrooms."

• Do you think South Africa needs a female perspective in technology? Why/why not?

"I think any country needs a diverse representation in technology. Representation drives diverse perspectives, innovations and solutions. Embracing the importance of having various voices can only mean growth, expansion and increasing participation in a field for a country. "You feed a woman you feed a nation", equally you bring a woman to the table, you bring a world of perspectives to tech."

• Who is your role model, and why?

"I have such an array of role models. From my family, to women in business, to women in academia and women in politics! "Celling Breakers", and those who ensure that they open the door for others to get a seat at the table influence my life to a great extent. I think seeing these pioneers always reminds me that you are only as successful and able to fulfil your God-given talent to the extent that you push yourself to."[/spb_text_block]

Patricia Monthe on delivering Universal Healthcare Coverage in developing countries

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Patricia Monthe is the Cameroonian founder and CEO of MEDx Care, an eHealthCenter that combines health, technology and innovation in significant ways to the social contexts of developing countries.

• What was the inspiration behind starting MEDx Care?

"MEDx Care is a company focusing on healthcare, technology and innovation for and in developing and emerging countries. Our first products focus on improving the delivery of universal health coverage at the public and private healthcare sector level, and we do this by offering a 'digital hospital combined with an offline medical record card'. With our solution, care providers can offer quality healthcare services (from self care to specialist care) with online patient records, appointments, tele-consults, and anamnesis forms with a payment infrastructure. Health consumers (aka patients) can access healthcare services with nothing more than a browser. Here is a link to a little demo of our solution."

• Did you always know you would be interested in ‘medtech’?

"I always knew I wanted to build a business. The industry was not clear because I am more of a strategist. When I felt ready, I explored two areas: scouting true innovators, or building a 'healthtech' company. After some market research and studies, I realised that 'healthtech' had more potential. Since then, I have been busy digging, understanding, collaborating, partnering, networking and growing in this space and industry I can proudly say we MASTER today."

• What are some notable 'medtech'-related ideas that you thought would never happen, but surprisingly, are catching on really well?

"Flatiron Health is a cloud-based technology platform that's currently used by about 260 cancer clinics. The New York City startup takes the patient data it collects from these cancer clinics (without identifying details, of course), and shares it with pharmaceutical companies and researchers. A similar project MEDx Care is working on with the Botswana Organisation for Rare Diseases (BORDIS), manages and connects data from rare disease patients in Botswana to research centres and pharmaceutical companies."

• If you could make one positive difference in Cameroon, what would it be and why?

"I dream of offering health coverage to Cameroon's 23.4 million citizens. I believe, together with my partners and team, I will be able to conceptualise, design, pilot and later deploy inclusive healthcare for all across the country. We strongly believe technology should play a great role in universal healthcare coverage."

• What do you predict will be trending in 'medtech' in the next decade in Africa?

"In the developed world, artificial intelligence, robotics and precision medicine are the biggest trends in 2018. But in the developing world, big data is still a critical piece to tackle. I believe we will dwell more on the Internet of things (IoT) to empower more patients who don't have access to the limited local care providers and care facilities."[/spb_text_block]

Nuclear Scientist, Nomso Faith Kana on improving broadband infrastructure in South Africa

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="Sidebar" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Nomso Faith Kana is a nuclear scientist by trade and the founder of Sun n Shield 84 Technologies, a fibre optic cable manufacturing start-up in South Africa.Nomso was elected as one of the top 80 emerging leaders in science and technology in Africa and the Middle East, and participated in TechWomen in 2013, an exchange program for women in STEM fields. She drives UN Women endorsed programs that empower women and the girl child in the SADC. 

"I come from the most supporting family in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, my childhood was filled with lots of activity and curiosity (I am still playful TODAY), and sometimes I would go with my father to the fields and look after his cattle. I became fascinated with science from primary. The first time I watched Star Trek my eyes popped. I still remember that – it was like I walked into a candy store. My parents were both teachers so they picked up this passion for science and harnessed it from secondary to tertiary. I studied computer science, chemistry and physics in my tertiary life. I love programming. I thought I would go that route but the science of chemistry and physics took over, and I landed in medical biology science. I am a qualified medical biology scientist who also got training in medical nuclear science." 

• What is it like to be a nuclear scientist?

"Science makes people reach for objectivity, proven facts and it is in the service of humanity. Science is important for humans to thrive and survive. I discovered that in all my years of working in laboratories. I worked in a radioisotope lab developing methods for chemotherapy treatments, splitting atoms, researching and optimising processes. I hung my lab coat two years ago. As a scientist your heart is always inclined to solving problems. This passion makes you move from one sector to another. I am now in the broadband and ICT sector, and I take pride that I am a nuclear scientist by trade, and that African girls with a similar passion can relate to me."

• You emerged one of the top 80 emerging leaders in science and technology in Africa and the Middle East and participated in TechWomen in 2013. What are your thoughts on STEM education for women in South Africa? Why should this be encouraged?

"I was ecstatic to be recognized and selected in this initiative started by former state secretary of the US, Hillary Clinton. This appointment boosted my career life and amplified my voice and influence. The recognition allowed me to expand my “Pay it Forward" initiative for girls in STEM in South Africa and the SADC. There is a huge deficit of science and engineering professions in the SA and SADC as a whole. An estimated 2.5 million new engineers and technicians are required in sub-Saharan Africa alone to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of improved access to clean water and sanitation. To achieve this, we need to attract every young mind to engineering, especially in the developing world, where attracting more women to fields in which they are underrepresented must be part of the solution. It is important to encourage women to be part of the 'solution table' for all African problem. Girls should be drawn to and retained in STEM fields from an early age. In 2014, a close friend of mine and I started 'Taungana' (meaning coming together) STEM movement, where we recruit and give STEM industry exposure to girls studying in rural areas, excelling in maths and science with a passion for community development. This is coupled with design thinking, entrepreneurship boot camps and innovation skills workshops."

• Tell us about Sun n Shield 84 Technologies, and what you do.

"I am the founder and managing director of Sun n Shield ⁸⁴ Tech group, an ISP and broadband infrastructure company. The group distributes passive fibre optic products, offers solutions for smart cities, participates in broadband rollout and has commenced in erupting a plant to produce local made products to be used for seamless internet connectivity. We believe that Africans must connect to the global community. But first, let’s connect to one another. We are currently in talks with local SADC telecoms to build fibre highways in order to make internet a basic human right as it is emerging to be one. My role is to drive the ship, but I don’t do it alone. I have an advisory team that ensures we move towards our mission's direction."

• What are your thoughts on how sustainable energy can improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable inhabitants​​​​​​​?

"Nature has provided us with chemical energy (coal, oil, gas), indirect nuclear energy from the sun (wind, solar and hydro) and direct nuclear energy (nuclear fission from uranium and other isotopes). Sustainability to me is about the importance of moral and sustainable energy policies which governments are custodians of. This means having the most under privileged people in mind when installing energy technology that works for the best benefit of man and the environment. This means respect for vulnerable people and accepting responsibility for the care of our beloved planet."

• What do you do when you aren’t working?

"When I am not glued to my laptop or stuck in meetings, I spend time with family and friends. It's priority! I also love travelling, especially to African countries, spending time with family and friends, meeting new people, learning other cultures and sharing about my faith. I enjoy discussing African politics as well as global markets. I love reading and I admire snakes – I love reptiles! <3"[/spb_text_block]

Lucy Quist is the Bold New Normal

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Lucy Quist is an international business leader and technology professional committed to advocating for greater participation of young people in STEM for development.She currently serves as the President of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Ghana, and is the co-founder of the Executive Women Network in Ghana. Lucy also became the first Ghanaian woman to lead a multinational telecommunications company as CEO at Airtel Ghana (now merged with Tigo as AirtelTigo).

"I grew up in both the UK and Ghana which helped me develop an early appreciation for diversity. I was quite a playful child - smart but I really enjoyed active play. My active play was fuelled by my curiosity. I love to explore and understand the world around me. At home, I was exposed to basic engineering tasks through helping my dad. When I moved to Ghana I found primary school challenging for the first few months. I guess I was not used to the teaching methods. But I soon settled in and by the start of the next academic year, I was second best in my class. I have never looked back."

 

"I went on to Wesley Girls’ High School because a senior I looked up to went there and so I was convinced that it must be a good school. I knew very little about the school otherwise. I am really glad that I made it there. It was an immensely empowering experience for me as a young woman. I was presented with examples of great women who had walked the corridors I was walking and had blazed so many trails for me to follow. The empowerment also meant that the most challenging academic endeavours were encouraged and aligned with my vision of my future. After Wesley Girls’ I attended the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (Presec) for sixth form - the sixth form was mixed. Presec at the time had a science college with the best science equipment in the country. I also knew it would attract the best minds in science from both genders and was a great training ground for the future."

Lucy was initially trained as an Electrical and Electronic Engineer.

• You graduated from the University of East London with a first-class honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. What/who inspired you to pursue this?

“I have always wanted to be an engineer. My first choice was Electrical and Electronic Engineering as I had been exposed to this by my father. However, along the way I had explored the possibility of studying Chemical Engineering. What swayed me back to Electrical and Electronic Engineering was the fact that the automotive industry - within which I was working at the time - did not really need chemical engineers. I was determined to graduate first in class and, so I worked extremely long hours to make sure I achieved my goal.”

• What was your first impression about Electrical and Electronic Engineering as a young woman?

“When I started practicing engineering I was not confident about my designs. I think that being young made the self-consciousness of being a woman even more acute. But I enjoyed the mental challenge and the collaboration with other engineers.”

• You began your career as an Electrical and Electronic Engineer at Ford Motor Company in the UK. What was this experience like for you?

“I started my career in a factory where less than 10% of the workers were women. Later when I moved to work fully as an engineer, the percentage was even lower. Directly there were about 3 other women at my level and a woman in senior management. It was a very positive experience because all the way back then the company had a stated goal of attracting and keeping more women in engineering. It was a very deliberate effort that took into account any particular needs women have. A great example was their extended maternity leave policy where women were paid fully for a year of leave.”

• You became the first Ghanaian woman to lead a multinational telecom company, Airtel Ghana, as CEO. What do you wish people knew about this feat?

“I would not so much call it a feat, but more a natural progression. The values and skills required were developed overtime. Regardless of gender, we have to be ready for the role we want to assume in future. My goal was to become the CEO of a larger corporation - the fact that I am a woman was not the primary focus. And that is an important point I would like to people to take away. We are each individuals and our gender happens to be a characteristic of us. We have no control over our gender, but we have the opportunity to fashion our skills, values and leadership style to achieve our goals.”

• You started two initiatives; “Evolve with STEM” and “The Bold New Normal”. What inspired these?

“Evolve with STEM was born out of the realisation that as a country, Ghana was not having conversations about STEM. As a matter of fact, the percentage of undergraduates studying STEM fields is declining each year. I wanted to ignite the conversation and use my achievements to inspire a generation into STEM. When I started my advocacy I would even have journalists ask me ‘what is STEM’? That is how far back the conversation was. Inspiring generations meant personally going to schools, speaking and engaging on all available platforms to promote STEM. I believe representation matters. That young girl has a much easier task if she visibly has an image of a woman who has gone all the way in STEM. The Bold New Normal has been with me most of my life but my TEDxEuston talk gave life to it outside my mind. I have seen the suffering of disadvantaged people around the world. They are part of our normal. But what if we questioned that normal? What if we asked ourselves what a great future would look like for them? And what if that vision meant that we change the way we talk about ourselves? If we talk positively of our future our mindsets will change. Changing mindsets will change what we do. We will start to act in line with the vision we want to create - a bold new normal. The two go hand in hand. We need new outcomes, but the continent is so far behind that we need STEM to accelerate the journey. For that to happen we must channel the potential of young people to ensure that they realise their potential.”

• If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be, and why?

“Honestly, I will change nothing. Earlier in my career I learnt to be decisive about what roles I took. It always had to be progressive on my terms. It does not mean every move was an upward progression. But every move was focused on achieving my long-term goals. I am fortunate that I am able to do this with the support, love and care of a wonderful family.”[/spb_text_block]

Luise Nghiueuelekwa on pursuing a career in medicine

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Luise Nghiueuelekwa was born in a small village called Iikuku, in the Northern part of Namibia, where she had her primary and junior high education. After her junior high experience, her aunt saw potential in her and moved her to the city of Windhoek to find better opportunities for a good education.

Today, Luise is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program (MBChB) at Kampala International University, Western Campus in Uganda.

 

So far this journey has shaped me into being a self-driven, analytic and independent thinker. But most importantly, it has taught me to appreciate life. I look at life in a much valuable sense. It has also left me with the question on my mind that I hope to find an answer to; WHAT IS IT IN THE WORLD OF MEDICINE THAT A WOMAN CAN'T DO?

Luise is a married mother of two.

• What do your family and friends think about your academic career? Are they supportive?

“My family and a few relatives are quite supportive. Their hope and desire is that I complete my studies successfully. I am the first lady, and generally the first person in the whole family to pursue this degree. It is, therefore, “our” degree.”

• What is the general perception of women in STEM in Namibia?

“These are fields that are generally perceived to be in a man’s world only. Although that is the case, over the past few years, women have taken up the challenge to pursue careers in STEM. The battle now is to change the narrative and mindset of the society towards acknowledging women as competent leaders in these areas, just as men are. I am inspired by Dr. Helena Ndume, a Namibian Ophthalmologist, notable for her charitable work among sufferers of eye-related illnesses in Namibia. She was awarded as the New African Woman in Health, Science and Technology in 2017, and serves as a role model to most of us.”

• What are some of the challenges you face with your studies in the university?

“Usually the workload of the program I am pursuing requires sacrifices of long sleepless nights, and generally having no social life. But it will be all worth it in the end.”

• What sort of impact do you see yourself making in the next 10 years?

“There has always been a shortage of doctors from Namibia. Majority of our doctors are foreign who do not speak our local languages. This creates a barrier between patient and doctor interaction. I intend to break this barrier, and I will start by caring for my village district. Hopefully, in the next 10 year, I will be able to create and join an association of local team doctors in Namibia.”

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