‘The world wants science and science wants ladies’

Akin Jimoh: 00:10

Welcome to Science in Africa, a Nature Careers podcast sequence. I’m Akin Jimoh, chief editor of Nature Africa. I work and reside in Lagos and I’m enthusiastic about selling science and public-health journalism in my native Nigeria, and throughout Africa.

On this sequence, we’re going to discover the follow of science on this great continent, the progress, the problems, the wants, within the phrases of African scientists who’re based mostly right here.

On this fifth episode, we meet two researchers who’ve taken upon themselves to do their bit to deal with the gender hole in science, expertise, engineering and arithmetic careers in Africa.

They each encourage younger women to get all for science, however in very other ways.

Stanley Anigbogu 01:27

My identify is Stanley Anigbogu. I’m 22 years previous from Nigeria. I’m a artistic technologist and a storyteller. At the moment the founding father of ArtecHubs Nigeria, a STEM schooling firm that gives high quality schooling in science, expertise, engineering and maths in Nigeria.

So STEM4HER is a non-profit undertaking that empowers younger women. So we’re taking a look at younger women in main to secondary colleges throughout the age vary of six to 18 years by offering them entry to abilities, mentorship, to interrupt the stereotypes inside what ladies can do, and can’t do within the science, expertise, engineering subject.

So STEM4HER supplies younger women in suburban and concrete communities with entry to robotic abilities, coding abilities and likewise storytelling abilities, with a view to encourage and empower these younger women to turn into future innovators, problem-solvers and changemakers, utilizing science and expertise to resolve issues world wide.

Akin Jimoh 02:25

Yeah, you understand, you talked about that you just type of put on two hats. You say you’re a storyteller. And you’re additionally into STEM, STEM4HER, particularly for ladies. That side of storytelling, what do you do? What sort of story do you inform? And the way do you inform the story?

Stanley Anigbogu 02:42

So the vast majority of the tales that we inform, or I inform at ArtecHubs, Nigeria is principally story for science, or typically storytelling for science engagement.

So the vast majority of the tales that I do inform are documenting the initiatives of our college students whereas they have been engaged on their initiatives, and the way the undertaking lastly ended up, and doubtless their success story. So we edit and doc the tales, and we share it with the following cohorts of the programme.

So that is to indicate them what individuals have carried out, and to show to them that they may really turn into change-makers themselves, not due to their gender, however due to who they’re and their capacity.

So it’s extra of a mindset shift for these younger women, to encourage them and to take away that backward considering that they shouldn’t be in science or expertise.

So I’m, for instance…one of many initiatives that we did in the course of the storytelling strategy of what we’re doing in step 4. So the Rocket Lady is an excellent instance. So this can be a story a couple of 12-year-old lady that’s enthusiastic about area and science typically.

Rocket Lady 03:55

Whats up world. My identify is Blessing. I’m in senior college. And I’m a Nigerian.

Stanley Anigbogu 04:04

… so she makes this rocket mannequin utilizing waste and recycled plastic pipes and likewise cardboard papers to make rockets that truly launch into the sky.

Rocket Lady: 04:15

… and that is the start of my story. As a younger lady …

Stanley Anigbogu 04:20

… so this can be a very impactful story. Then what we do is we doc solely the tales that we’re certain that can pack life into different younger women, and we then use that story to empower and encourage different younger women as properly.

Akin Jimoh: 04:38

Are you able to bear in mind the basics for tips on how to, you understand, sail in direction of a rocket? I imply, what might have been her inspiration by way of constructing rockets at that age?

Stanley Anigbogu 04:49

Yeah, I believe typically, she grew up very, very uncovered to a variety of cartoons. In response to her, she was very impressed to sooner or later turn into an astronaut or journey to area or most likely be a part of a crew that builds rockets that can take Africa to area.

In order that was a really inspiring story for me and her drive was simply sensible. Then we simply helped her with the product, the design of how she might make this domestically made rocket. And he or she simply took the wheel from there. She’s a superb younger lady. However I believe she bought impressed by a variety of cartoons. Yeah, to be trustworthy, a variety of cartoons.

Rocket Lady 05:35

I’m very all for science and expertise. I get pleasure from exploring the unknown, and occurring journeys that present options to world-related challenges. I intend to go world wide and examine new prospects for the way science could result in constructive change in rural communities.

Stanley Anigbogu 06:01

And to be trustworthy, talking, from my very own perspective, I believe motion pictures and cartoons are very key.

Like I stated, storytelling has a really wonderful energy that we underestimate.

I bought impressed to take part in science and expertise in 2018.That was after I watched Iron Man when it got here out, newly. And that impressed me to be like Tony Stark sooner or later.

However alongside the best way, I later found my very own ardour. And my very own objective is to encourage different younger individuals to be a part of the science and expertise cool area. So I believe motion pictures, typically tales do encourage a variety of change, a variety of nice individuals and a variety of vital problem-solvers.

Akin Jimoh: 06:47

Okay. Okay, so that you doc experiences, and so forth and so forth.

So why did you begin it? Since you made this assertion just lately, and I quote, “It’s onerous altering the ladies’ mindsets, particularly for these from rural, you understand, communities, you understand, with restricted entry to, you understand, gear services as quickly as so forth?”

But you established STEMforHER. For ladies in rural areas. Why?

Stanley Anigbogu 07:16

The rationale was, at a sure level in my change-making profession, I encountered a bit of lady that got here as much as me. We have been making ready for a science truthful. And he or she stated in quotes, “My mother stated that I can take part within the science truthful competitors, as a result of science truthful is supposed for boys. And I used to be like, ‘No, it’s most likely meant for everybody’.”

And I began wanting into the statistics of girls in science, and likewise the variety of college students who have been impacted in our programme. Solely 10% have been women in our programme. And that made me suppose I believe I’m additionally contributing to the issue, that there are much less ladies in science and expertise.

So we type of shifted our focus to impression extra women. And we found that women within the rural space, or rural communities, have been largely affected by that societal mindset that girls ought to solely be medical doctors, or most likely, I don’t, nurses. However being a part of science and expertise, being innovators, inventors are utilizing science to resolve world issues. Ladies usually are not in that area.

So we determined to alter the narrative, empower these women, present them with mentorship and likewise give them that energy and motivation that they want mentally to ensure that them to persevere within the science subject.

So whenever you’re wanting, typically statistics relating to the science subject, typically, ladies simply make up 30%.

And that’s an enormous hole, which signifies that there are such a lot of issues that girls are dealing with, that aren’t being addressed, as a result of there are fewer ladies in that area.

And alongside whenever you’re speaking a couple of gender perspective, a person is fixing an issue as a person from his personal perspective and the world round him.

A girl can also be fixing it based mostly on gender, how she sees the issue as a girl, a girl. So once we look typically, ladies usually are not on condition that area, which signifies that we’ve got been fixing our downside for many years and even centuries, one-sided. We’re simply fixing it one-sided. Which implies we aren’t having rather more concepts on the desk to resolve these issues.

So I believe getting extra ladies into science, most likely sure, may create the shifts that we have to resolve extra issues.

And I usually inform my feminine college students, “You’re means smarter than my male college students.” It’s means humorous as a result of, yeah, as a result of they do not have that chance. So the little alternative they get, they put it to use very properly they usually actually are the success fee of their initiatives are increased than the boys. And that’s as a result of they know that that is my likelihood, that is my flip to shine. And I may not get this chance once more. They usually push for it. So I believe that’s my very own discovery from my undertaking. Sure.

Doreen Anene 10:25

My identify is Doreen Anene. I’m a final-year animal-science PhD researcher on the college of biosciences on the College of Nottingham.

In my analysis, I’m investigating the variation in efficiency variables of particular person hens and their affiliation with the standard and the protection of the egg.

Now very importantly, I’m a devoted consultant for girls in science from low-income communities and under-represented teams, and the founder and programme director of The STEM Belle.

Akin Jimoh: 11:00

Sure. STEM Belle. What’s the STEM Belle programme about? What does it imply?

Doreen Anene 11:05

So The STEM Belle is a non-profit group. And it was based in 2017. And our overarching aim is to recalibrate the feminine illustration in STEM careers, and finally shut the gender hole in STEM fields.

So we’re working in direction of this aim by first attracting women from low-income communities to science topics. Then secondly, we’re retaining them in science courses in senior secondary colleges. After which we’re advancing them to STEM careers by way of tertiary schooling.

So STEM, for anybody who doesn’t know, is the acronym for science, expertise, engineering and arithmetic. Whereas Belle is the French phrase for the attractive lady, the attractive lady, yeah.

So placing this collectively, you’ve got The STEM Belle, which suggests the attractive lady in science and yeah, and with this you possibly can see that we’re making an attempt to go the message throughout that girls and women will be every thing. They are often elegant in stilettos, and they are often assured and metal toes on the identical time.

Akin Jimoh: 12:16

Yeah, you understand, you’ve carried out lots, you understand, within the space of labor. However why do we want extra women in science? Why?

Doreen Anene: 12:26

Why not? Why will we not want extra women in science? Look, UNESCO has captured it completely. The world wants science and science wants ladies.

I don’t know if there’s a lot extra so as to add to that.

However the fact is there’s very critical gender equality inequality occurring within the STEM sector, proper?

And that is much more pronounced at decision-making ranges, board ranges.

So that you may discover statistics, however globally, there’s solely lower than, what, 30% of girls who’re in STEM fields. And in Africa, it’s even much less.

The variety of women who select engineering levels are lots lower than males. After all, males dominate the science and the tech sectors.

Plenty of work has been carried out to alter the established order. However there’s nonetheless much more to be carried out in a complete lot extra to be carried out. And the attention-grabbing factor with ladies and women is that they’re so artistic. They usually perceive, you understand, a few of these challenges, and that if given a platform, they will proffer a really stable resolution to world issues.

Take for instance, the results of local weather change. So ladies in low-income communities actually undergo the brunt of local weather change. There’s a variety of droughts and so many different issues that you just discover because of local weather change that’s affecting their productiveness affecting their profitability.

Now, if women from related communities which have seen their mother and father undergo this hardship, are supported to get to decision-making ranges, do you not suppose that they might suppose critically to carry up options as a result of they don’t need individuals like their moms to undergo that ache, that struggling any extra?

Akin Jimoh: 14:25

Yeah, you understand, whenever you say lovely women, you understand, in science, yeah, In Africa, I imply, there’s a saying that the attractive ones usually are not but born. However these lovely scientists, you understand, are born already.

What’s the core downside? Why women? What’s the core subject for beginning this programme?

Doreen Anene: 14:47

So, in Africa, usually, and I believe in fairly quite a lot of different continents, you understand, particularly in low-income communities, there are gende- bias stereotypes which have actually eaten deep into the mindset of girls and women, particularly from low-income communities.

And these stereotypes are limiting them from attaining their full potential as human beings. So whenever you interact with schoolgirls or women, usually from these communities, you hear issues like “Engineering is just not a girl’s course.” You hear issues like, “I do not need to do engineering as a result of it’d be troublesome for me to get married.”

Some individuals even go ahead to say that pilots will discover it troublesome to have kids. You already know, all types of stereotypes, limiting ladies from exploring careers in STEM, from maximizing their full potential.

All these items come from … they’re handed down, actually, they’re handed down from generations which have gone forward of the ladies.

These are, like, beliefs which might be being handed on to this era. So now, with all of those, women are being restricted. Now, the world is altering. The world wants science, science wants ladies. And the reality is that in just a few years in 2030, by 2030, the projection is that girls and women, science, expertise and engineering will turn into a really related talent to safe jobs.

We’re seeing it already occurring earlier than our time. Tech is changing into the actual factor. And women and girls are going to be closely deprived. And even worse, women and girls in low-income communities.

So our agenda is to be sure that ladies and women from low-income economically deprived communities usually are not not noted on this world change that’s about to hit us.

Akin Jimoh: 16:53

Two very completely different approaches. I really like Stanley’s ingenious initiatives STEM4HER That try to interrupt ceilings for younger women by exhibiting what is feasible. Utilizing storytelling, such because the brief movie about Rocket Lady, can encourage younger women to dream after which make their goals actuality.

STEM Belle is a extra systemic method. Doreen desires to help women by way of their very own journey in schooling. However how does she do that in follow?

What have been the deep ideas that you just had. That “Look, I want to present alternative to others, you understand, who could also be at a sure stage.” And having a woman baby in itself from conception? You already know, it issues, to take a look at how do I carry this baby up?

Doreen Anene 17:49

I grew up in northern Nigeria. I grew up in Zaria in Kaduna state, Kaduna state. Now, once we have been rising up, my mum studied schooling. She wasn’t a scientist, and was making an attempt to get a job as a instructor with, you understand, a non-science diploma. She discovered it troublesome.

Akin Jimoh: 18:16

These are the those that make scientists. I do know the important thing position they play.

Doreen Anene: 18:20

I agree. I agree, she discovered it troublesome as a result of there have been so many opponents for that job. For for these jobs she was making use of for proper.

After which she thought that she didn’t need her kids to undergo this. After which she began indoctrinating the advantages of science and her expertise to us. Now, rising up I had these stereotypes. Engineering is just not for girls, it’s not for these, you’re going to finish up in a person’s home. There’s actually no want so that you can stretch your self going by way of all of those.

As a result of I imply, the tip aim is meant to be married, proper? Once I bought into the college, I’ve a sister who’s an engineer as properly. One other one who’s a physicist.

Once we come house for holidays, we sit and you understand, evaluate what occurs in our lecture rooms. And we notice that there are simply 4 women out of 100 boys in engineering college, 7 women out of 70 boys in physics courses. In agriculture, the proportion was fairly excessive. However there was nonetheless that divide.

So these stereotypes I consider, which have been as quickly as a woman turns into conscious of “What do you need to turn into?”

You already know, for the primary few years they’re being formidable, however as they progress, then actuality begins to set in. Folks begin to say issues. Typically even their moms are saying issues to discourage them from exploring STEM careers.

So I believe it begins early. It begins actually early. And that’s the place the leaky pipeline begins from the house. It actually begins from the house, from what the kids or the ladies are listening to from their mother and father, from their academics, from their principals, from individuals round them.

And that’s why at The STEM Belle we’re beginning our intervention actually early. The youngest of our beneficiaries are round GSS 1, so that they’re round 9 years previous. And we try this as a result of we need to entice them to science programs, to science topics.

We need to allow them to know that “Maths is tough” is only a assertion, in case you put work into it, maths wouldn’t be onerous.

Akin Jimoh: 20:36

You’ve got talked about quite a lot of obstacles, you understand, issues which might be systemic, cultural, and so forth and so forth, you understand, that roughly have an effect on, you understand, having extra women in science.

Are you able to give us perspective on how you’ve got been in a position to tackle these systemic and cultural obstacles?

You already know, for instance, how do you persuade a mother or father that “Look, this lady must be a scientist. This lady must be a mechanical engineer.” You already know, you get individuals have a look at, for instance, to be a mechanic. Mechanics that restore our automobiles are normally males. While you see a feminine mechanic, it’s like, “Wow, what are you doing right here?”

So have you ever been in a position to actually tackle, you understand, key points that relate to cultural and systemic orientation that you just roughly have an effect on, having extra women in science and analysis, and so forth, and so forth?

Doreen Anene: 21:34

Good. So we’ve got been working for 5 years.

And one in all our main methods to deal with these points is conversations, reorientation, re-education of all of the stakeholders on this chain, the mother and father, the scholars, the individuals from the Ministry of Schooling, principals, neighborhood leaders. We go into colleges, and this is the reason we work with colleges, public secondary colleges straight.

So we first begin with the federal government, we go to the state’s workplace for schooling. Desk our prices, desk our aims defined to them generally from right here, I’ve conferences with individuals on the State Ministry of Schooling, explaining to them why we have to do that undertaking.

They purchase into the concept, after which we get the approval to go to colleges. Once we get to colleges, we sit with principals, heads of departments for science topics, explaining why there’s a want for extra women to be in science. You might be a physics instructor, however not know that there’s a want for a lady to be in science. So we completed this we’ve had PTA conferences, would I name it PTA, you understand, like

Akin Jimoh: 22:50

Dad and mom Lecturers Affiliation.

Dorren Anene: 22:53

Sure, it’s actually participatory. So like I used to be saying that, you understand, we interact the mother and father, we clarify to them why there’s a necessity for ladies. And we undergo this course of, as a result of these women are usually beneath 18, they’re nonetheless beneath the affect and course of their mother and father.

So we have to be sure that everybody forward of that has authority over the ladies and are on the identical web page. After which once we go to begin working with the ladies, we are able to see change, we are able to see the impression already.

They go to inform their mother and father after which you understand, it type of consolidates. So we put in all of the motion, we’ve got varied methods that we’ve got rolled out at The STEM Belle to realize this aim. And we at all times have our mother and father come by way of with suggestions with feedback, they attend all our occasions. You already know, it is actually participatory, and actually participating, and we made certain it’s from bottom-top.

Akin Jimoh 23:51

You already know, these days once we have been rising up, you understand, a typical younger boy, you understand, is using a bicycle, is making, you understand, a wheel that he rolls about within the compound, climbing bushes and so forth and so forth.

And these components at instances, you understand, spur you to do quite a lot of different issues. Are there parts in a means that, you understand, the lady baby from infancy, or from being a toddler, is just not restricted by the type of toys she performs with? I imply, might that … is that an space that you just discover additionally not directly?

Doreen Anene 24:32

Properly, in case you research the leaky pipeline of girls in STEM, it begins from infancy. The sorts of toys they play with the type of colouring books they have a look at.

You already know, it goes all the best way to secondary college, you understand, the ages we work with, or it goes all the best way to main college, the type of extracurricular courses they go for.

Whereas the boys are going for coding and stuff, the ladies are going for knitting and cooking, which is completely implausible. So it extends onto secondary college.

So why the fellows, the boys are going into one thing extra technical and vocational, the ladies generally even pressured to enter one thing “extra homely”. That is in quotes, proper? After which it retains rising.

For us, significantly, the main focus of our work is from secondary college, you understand, JSS 1, till SS 3.

And the reason being in between GSS 1 to SS three, we’ve got JS 3. JS 3is such a essential yr within the lifetime of anybody that’s going to decide on science like, you understand, you’re pressured to decide on science, artwork, industrial and all that.

Most instances, whenever you decide a non-science specialization, it’s like a journey of no return. We don’t discover you once more, truthfully, besides if God decides to intervene.

And for girls, for girls, for girls, it’s normally, you understand, tougher as a result of proper after secondary college, it’s a wedding, you understand, and all types of issues.

So our focus, I recognize everybody that’s placing in work, and different sections of the pipeline, however our focus is throughout the secondary college.

And sure, I agree. Toys play an vital position. From a younger age, kids turn into very artistic, they turn into problem-solvers. They turn into essential thinkers, they turn into practically like scientists. So the extra you expose them to toys, Montessori toys that can problem their considering, the extra you permit them to fail, and work it out. I believe that possibly there could be an affiliation with them ending up as, you understand, actually essential and technical individuals.

Akin Jimoh 27:03

What do you see sooner or later, you understand, what’s the future plan for STEM4HER? And even for the coed additionally, what do they see? You already know, sooner or later, you understand, are they prepared to hold this, you understand, to the following stage?

Or are there examples of those that have moved on to one thing increased, you understand, from the programme?

Stanley Anigbogu 27:22

So among the women in our programmes whenever you ask them, as a result of we at all times do that survey earlier than and after the undertaking.

So we ask them, “What do you need to obtain?” And we requested them after the programme, “what do you suppose you are going to have the ability to obtain at this second in your profession?” Majority of the ladies will at all times inform you that she sees herself changing into an inventor. So I believe that’s the overall idea.

They need to turn into inventors at this level. However I usually inform them, you may turn into a health care provider, however you may turn into a health care provider that solves issues.

So typically, I see a future the place the vast majority of these women are going to be main problem-solvers. entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs and even inventors arising with modern options.

And that’s the goal. That is the goal for STEM4HER. We’re not making an attempt to simply create inventors or chief engineers or scientists or researchers, we are attempting to create a league of downside solvers and change-makers within the African ecosystem.

The long run I see for STEM4HER is we’re going to be doing rather more of storytelling, documenting the initiatives of those women and sharing it out on social media to encourage different younger women the world over.

Akin Jimoh 28:39

I do know that many Africans, such as you, you understand. What’s going to you advise, you understand, by way of, you understand, beginning this programme in different African international locations? You already know, in a means that, you understand, we are able to populate, you understand, the continent, you understand, with concepts and so forth and so forth. Are you able to speak to Africa?

Stanley Anigbogu 28:59

Yeah, so my recommendation to each African change-maker on the market that’s making an attempt to alter the world or making an attempt to create initiatives that might break obstacles and supply sustainable options for Africa.

The perfect recommendation I might offer you is, it’s a really gradual journey. It’s not a dash. It’s a marathon.

I do know this sounds cliche, but it surely’s true. It’s a really, very lengthy marathon.

However the recommendation I might give is each single one in all us would use this sort of proves it.

My grandma used to say she would say everyone seems to be a crying child. We’re all crying for our voices to be heard. And solely people who cry probably the most will get heard. So I believe you shouldn’t hand over crying as a result of in case you didn’t hear you as we speak doesn’t imply that they received’t hear you tomorrow. So carry on crying. Don’t cease till the world hears your identify. Everybody is exclusive, however solely people who present their uniqueness are uncommon. So I believe my recommendation to each younger African out there’s be learn as doable, cry out loud, scream out loud, let your voice be heard and create as a lot change as you possibly can.

Akin Jimoh: 30:12

You encourage younger women. Younger women have mother and father, they’ve uncles, they’ve aunties, and so forth and so forth.

How can they be such as you? How will we acknowledge a few of these inherent passions, you understand, inherent concepts and goals, you understand, of the lady baby, you understand, in a means that we do not stereotype, you understand, our lady baby into doing what we anticipate them to do?

You already know, do you’ve got a perspective on that that we are able to be taught from?

Stanley Anigbogu 30:45

Positively. So I inform my college students, it doesn’t matter what I educate you, or irrespective of how I instructed you about science or in science, science.

If alongside the best way, you determine that you’re not enthusiastic about science, please do shift into your ardour. I believe that’s a really core phantom that the African mindset is about, it’s a must to do that. It’s a must to turn into a health care provider, it’s a must to turn into an engineer.

I believe it’s about giving the children a liberty to discover the world, to turn into who they’re, to turn into themselves. So we do inform our college students, hey, irrespective of how we inform you about science, it doesn’t matter what we inform you about science, be your self, determine who you’re, and keep robust with that, and you then’re going to stop altering the world.

A few of our college students ended up dropping out, changing into like focusing extra into artwork. And I’m like, “Yeah, certain, in case you’re doing artwork, ensure you do artwork that modifications the world”. That’s it. Like I stated, it’s not solely specializing in science, and science is extra of science for change-making, no matter you do, simply just remember to depart a footprint that modifications one thing on this planet.

And we, we type of yeah, we type of stick it behind their head. It’s a must to change the world by some means.

Even when it’s cooking, prepare dinner for good, prepare dinner for change. For those who’re travelling, journey for change, no matter you’re enthusiastic about. If you wish to make cash, make cash for change, no matter you’re enthusiastic about, it has to at the least make somebody’s life higher.

Akin Jimoh 32:26

Gender hole is actual. And the basis of the issue is definitely gender bias that exists in African society, and in lots of others for that matter.

Why society catches up. It would take programmes like STEM4HER and STEM Belle and lots of extra to assist tackle the imbalance. In order that’s all for this episode of Science in Africa. In nature, careers, podcasts. I’m Akin Jimoh, chief editor of Nature Africa. Thanks once more for to thanks once more to Stanley Anigbogu and Doreen Anene. And thanks for listening.