Chair: Prof. Narnia Bohler-Muller, HSRC

Discussant: Dr Palesa Sekhejane, HSRC

Speaker: Dr Malebo Tibane, Department of Physics, Unisa,

Date:  Thursday, 6 August     
Time: 12:30 – 14:00
Venue:    VCRs, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban

The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of DST.

Representation of girls and women in the Physics related sector is declining or stagnating globally and locally. Therefore, issues that hamper on the development of women to participate equally in male-dominated spheres need to be discussed and captured adequately to create an enabling environment for women and girls in the sciences, and physics in general. In November 2005 Women in Physics in South Africa (WiPiSA) was launched, with funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and under the auspices of the South African Institute of Physics.

WiPiSA aims to address the following areas of concern:

• Attracting girls into physics, including changes in teaching and curricula
• Launching a successful physics career, including mentoring and evaluation
• Getting women into higher positions in institutional and leadership structures
• Breaking stereotypes
• Balancing family and career
• Jobs
• Funding, and eligibility for funding
• Improving the institutional structure and climate for women in physics 


The Human Sciences Research Council will be co-hosting with WiPiSA a seminar dedicated to encouraging and stimulating girls and women to study and practicephysics. The aim will also be to create a platform that will enable a robust discussion on how to remove obstacles and barriers that hinder girls and women in their studies and in their workplaces. 

The seminar may be attended in Pretoria, Cape Town or Durban

RSVP by 5 August
Cape Town: Carmen August (021) 466 7827, caugust@hsrc.ac.za   12th Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street, Cape Town
Durban: Ridhwaan Khan (031) 242 5400, rkhan@hsrc.ac.za   1st Floor, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor
Pretoria: Arlene Grossberg (012) 302 2811, acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za  1st  Floor, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria