Panafrican News Agency

NGO deplores low representation of women in science

Brazzaville, Congo (PANA)   -   The president of the Congolese Foundation for Medical Research (FCRM), Professor Francine Ntoumi, on Thursday deplored the low representation of women in science, state radio reported here.

Addressing a workshop on the use of micro science kits, artificial intelligence and robotics organized by UNESCO, Prof Ntoumi advocated a place for women in science.

According to her, women are very poorly represented in this field, adding that 28.8% of women “are in science worldwide and 31% in sub-Saharan Africa”.

“But when we look at sub-Saharan Africa, there are disparities: Chad last: 4%; the Democratic Republic of Congo, 10%; and the Republic of Congo, 13%. At the top of the table are The Gambia, 31%; Uganda,30%, and Senegal, 29%," she stated.

Regarding the consequences of this low representation, she said, were, among other things, less creativity and performance, and less innovation.

Prof Ntoumi said studies had shownthat companies with a very high mix were those that had had the most innovations.

Explaining the reasons for this low women representation in science, she said, were the duration of the studies considered too long; the weight of culture (maternity); prejudices, and stereotyping.

"In recent years, the point that appears to be that there are more and more women in science is that they have no role models to project onto.

“Solutions to this low representation of women in science must be found in prizes that encourage women scientists, such as the African Union's Kwame-Nkrumah Prize; the UNESCO L'Oréal Prize, fellowships," she proposed.

Shedding light on the situation of Congolese women, Prof Ntoumi asked decision-makers and stakeholders to support initiatives such as the FCRM, which had been running the project

"Making scientific research a women's ambition" for four years. This is an approach that involves, among other things, raising awareness and encouraging young people to love science.

"Decision-makers, stakeholders, your responsibility is engaged to support these initiatives. You must take this issue very seriously because development will be at this price. I think it is not acceptable that we have 53% of girls admitted to the baccalaureate, that at the master's level there are more than 30 to 43% and at the doctorate level there are more than 20%. In science leadership, we only have 11% left," stated Ntoumi, adding that "the world needs science, but science needs Congolese women". 

 

-0-   PANA   MB/MTA/RA   30May2019