by Siphumelele Nhlapo, Schneider Electric

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Siphumelele Nhlapo, Schneider Electric’s human resources director for the company’s anglophone cluster, challenges us to celebrate the successes achieved by women scientists and engineers.

When you think of a scientist, who comes to mind? Is it Albert Einstein, the founder of the theory of relativity? Or Sir Isaac Newton, who gave us the concept of gravity? Or perhaps its Louis Pasteur, who invented the process of vaccination.

How many women scientists can you recall? Do you know Marie Curie, who was fundamental to the discovery of radiation? Or Janaki Ammal, India’s first female botanical scientist who advocated for the preservation of the country’s biodiversity? How about South Africa’s own Tebello Nyokong, a chemist who has been named amongst the most influential women in science and technology throughout Africa?

There are literally millions of women working in the field of science. And the difference they have made and continue to make is beyond measure. I wanted to both burst some stereotypes and suggest one simple means to get more girls to think about science as a life-long passion.

The old stereotype of girls being bad in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – collectively known as STEM – is far too common. And it could not be farther from the truth. Girls often outperform boys in STEM subject exams. In 2019, the United Nations published data showing that 68% of girls got top grades in maths and science exams taken at 16, compared with 65% of boys.

The challenge we have is perception. And confidence. Far too often, girls wrongly believe that they’re not good in science; they think they’re best in the arts. And we must break that stereotype too.

How do we do this?

Firstly, let’s give our girls the confidence and belief which will change these perceptions. We should celebrate them when they do well and encourage them to see that they can be just as good as anyone, if not better, when it comes to learning STEM subjects. By acknowledging their abilities at a young age and reminding them of their abilities throughout their time at school, we’re helping these young girls believe that they choose science as a career choice.

The second is the need for role models. We need successful women scientists and engineers that our girls can look up to and emulate. They need to feel that anything is possible, and the best way for us to do this is tell the story of female pioneers, both past and present. And there are so many women scientists and engineers who are making a difference every single day. What is important is for media to give these women more of a spotlight.

Finally, we’ve got to highlight the diversity of female scientists. When I began writing, I namechecked one woman from India, Janaki Ammal, and one woman from South Africa, Tebello Nyokong. Ability knows no bounds: not the colour of a person’s skin, not their nationality, nor their gender.

I am blessed to work with so many incredible women who are passionate about science. They’ve pursued a career based on their scientific capabilities and know-how, and they’re making a difference in how we live every single day.

Today, I celebrate them. And I cannot wait for the next generation of women scientists, engineers and technologists who will make their impact for the good of humanity.

So, let’s encourage our girls and remind them today and every day that science can be their passion and future too.

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