On Tuesday, 25 February 2025, HSRC CEO, Professor Sarah Mosoetsa, spoke at the first G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) side event at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. She highlighted that “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with the humanities and social sciences, are the engines of progress, shaping the future of our societies, economies, and the well-being of our people”.
The side event, which the HSRC organised with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the RIWG’s international knowledge partner, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), focused on the underrepresentation of women and girls in STEM and innovation fields – a persistent global challenge.
Delegates and participants in the first G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) side event at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.
Women comprise nearly half the global population, and despite decades of advocacy, policy interventions, and growing awareness, they remain significantly underrepresented in STEM and innovation professions and leadership roles. The gender gap in STEM “is not just a loss for women—it is a loss for science, for innovation, and humanity as a whole”, Professor Mosoetsa emphasised.
She welcomed the G20 delegation alongside Mr Imraan Patel, Deputy Director General of Research Development and Support at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation; and Dr Ezra Clark, Chief of the Section for Science Technology and Innovation Policy in the Natural Sciences Sector at UNESCO.
Professor Mosoetsa pointed out that the event coincides with the untimely passing of Ms Senamile Masango, South Africa’s first Black female nuclear scientist. At just 37 years old, she was a pioneer, a source of inspiration, and a role model to many young women across the nation. Ms Masango was a celebrated nuclear scientist, world energy leader, entrepreneur and the first African woman to form part of an African-led team conducting experiments at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), a world-renowned centre for scientific research. “Many South Africans considered her the queen of science, a woman who broke barriers, defied expectations and paved the way for future generations. Her passing is a profound loss, but her legacy serves as a reminder of what is possible when women are given the opportunity to lead in STEM and innovation,” said Professor Mosoetsa.
The HSRC’s Dr Glenda Kruss chaired the G20 RIWG-UNESCO side event and keynote addresses were delivered by Ms Rovani Sigamoney, Education Programme Specialist at UNESCO’s Southern Africa office, as well as Ms Naadiya Moosajee, an engineer and entrepreneur and co-founder of Wom-Hub and Women in Engineering (WomEng), an ecosystem builder supporting STEM innovation, particularly for female founders in technology and innovation fields.
The side event also included a roundtable discussion, moderated by Dr Dorothy Ngila from the National Research Foundation and a W20 SA delegate. The roundtable discussed key issues impacting women and girls’ pathways through education and career advancement, including the global policy landscape and initiatives aimed at addressing the gender gap, with input by Ms Silvia Bojinova, Senior Policy Officer, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission. Dr Maphuti Madiga spoke about interventions by the South African government, for example, the South African Women in Science Awards. Professor Anthea Rhoda from the University of the Free State shared about the role of universities in cultivating supportive environments, both physically and mentally, where young people can grow and develop to prepare them for careers in STEM.
The esteemed, award-winning scientist, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director at the Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and President of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), shared some of the key moments and learnings in her decades-long career. This conversation was placed alongside the 2024 Young Talent of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Programme, Ms Hilja Eelu. As a PhD candidate in the Department of Statistical Sciences, based at the University of Cape Town, a young scientist in her early 30s, spoke about the current realities faced by young scientists and the role of social media in supporting science communication and establishing yourself as a scientist.
The roundtable then touched on gender-based violence and harassment concerning women in the workplace, with input by Dr Keamogetse Morwe, a senior lecturer in the Department of Youth in Development at the University of Venda, drawing on her research conducted at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Lastly, the role of men and boys and that of families cannot be overlooked in the efforts to address the gender imbalance in STEM. Families play a key role in shaping young girls’ aspirations, providing encouragement, and challenging gender norms that may limit their opportunities. When families support their children’s interest in STEM, they help build confidence and resilience, laying the foundation for future success for both young boys and girls. Dr Cobus van Breda, Programme Director of Science-for-the-Future and Manager of Sci-Ed Science Education Centre at the University of the Free State, spoke about the Family Maths and Family Science programmes. These are crucial initiatives aimed at cultivating a love for science and mathematics from a young age among school children, including boys and girls.
The G20 RIWG side event emphasised that the challenges driving the underrepresentation of women and girls in STEM are multifaceted and require multi-pronged interventions, including systemic actions and targeted individual interventions. The issues of diversity, equality, inclusivity and accessibility in science, technology and innovation is a priority area of the RIWG under South Africa’s G20 presidency, and therefore an important platform to raise the intersecting issues affecting the education and career pipeline of women in South Africa, Africa, the world – especially in the current geopolitical climate that threatens the many gains achieved over the last few years. The side event called for accelerated action to close the gender gap so that one day, every young girl and boy, no matter where they come from, can reach their fullest potential and change the world. The title of the event was “Shaping a better world for women and girls in science”, however, Mr Imraan Patel rephrased it to: “Women and girls in science: Shaping a better world for all of us” because the potential is endless when women and girls have not just the opportunities but supportive environments to thrive in STEM careers.
Watch the event here: