Africa Science Week unveiled to boost girls' STEM uptake

Scholars in Nairobi have unveiled an 11 country campaign that targets girls to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses as careers of choice.

Dubbed the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) African Science Week (ASW) 2023 edition, the week-long symposium is themed “Breaking Barriers” which seeks to exhibit scientific excellence as evidence that women can excel in STEM careers. 

This is an all-out pro-girlchild campaign that will see themed events, exhibitions, scientific caravans, robotics competition, roundtables, conferences and scientific movie nights held to show girls can also excel in STEM careers.

The event organised by the Africa Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIM) with the support of Henry Luce Foundation (HLF) will run from 10-26 June 2023 at Kenyatta University. 

Speaking during the launch, Next Einstein Forum Ambassador Kenya, civil and structural Engineer, Grace Nzivo said African women in STEM contribute to the global scientific community, which is critical for global progress. 

 "Over the past few years, conversations about the challenges that women in STEM face have been tackled but unfortunately the numbers still show otherwise," she said. 

According to data from African Women in Science and Engineering, the number of women in science and engineering related fields is still below 20 per cent.

"This is despite the fact that women take up 50 per cent in the employment sector," Nzivo added. 

In Kenya, research has it that women make up only 7.3 per cent of the engineering population.

It is further noted that the admission of female students to engineering careers are at 24 per cent compared to that of their male counterparts which is at 76 per cent.

This scenario cuts across the majority of STEM related fields in the country.

Nzivo said that the leaky pipeline in the STEM field has also shown that despite women choosing STEM careers, majority of them end up dropping out before completing the course at the university level.

It is even sad, she added, to know that women in STEM careers get lower pay by 30 per cent compared to their male counterparts for the same amount of work.

“It is quite paramount that this year’s Africa Science Week is putting women at the forefront of the conversation about breaking barriers to enhance scientific excellence,” Nzivo said.

UON department of geospatial and space technology chairperson Prof Faith Karanja said the series of interactive sessions will promote the discovery of science and technology in Africa and globally.

This is while encouraging the youth, especially girls to take active participation in coordinated science events across the continent. 

Karanja further noted that there is a lot of inequality in terms of representation of women and girls within the STEM fields.

“The idea behind this initiative is to continue auditing where we are at in terms of representation so that we can formulate strategies to address these inequalities,” she said. 

“It is equally important to note that partnerships are very important and we recognise that this is a multifaceted approach because we need institutions, governments and industries that support women in STEM.”

She added that in Kenya, there is a lack of an existing STEM policy that will be looking at such issues through the gender lens.

“I am aware that such a policy is in the works and is now at an advance stage of formulation.  We hope and believe that this will anchor many of the programs and initiatives that we are undertaking to bridge these barriers and gaps in terms of women and girls taking up programs in the STEM field,” Karanja said. 

Week-long initiatives such as tech-day and robotics day at PCEA Kinyanjui TTI seek to nurture young female talents into taking interest in STEM. 

Several scientific professionals are also expected to be present to share new insights and trends and available opportunities.