1st Edition: 2015 – 2016 2nd Edition: 2016 – 2017 SCIENCE BY WOMEN The Women for Africa Foundation (FMxA), in line with its mission of contributing to the development of Africa through the drive of its women, launched the SCIENCE BY WOMEN programme, with the aim to promote African women’s leadership in scientific research and technology transfer and to foster the capacity of the research centres in their home countries. The main goal is to enable African women researchers and scientists to tackle the great challenges faced by Africa through research in health, agriculture and food security, water, energy and climate change, which can be transferred into products and technologies having impact on people´s lives. The programme´s ultimate goal is to enable African women researchers to play a leading role in the transition of Africa to a knowledge‐based and innovation‐led economy. To achieve this ambitious goal, FMxA collaborates with the Spanish ‘Severo Ochoa’ Centres of Excellence, whose prestige is unanimously recognized throughout Spain and internationally, thereby ensuring excellence in scientific research in various fields. For the 1st the Edition, they were the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO, www.cnio.es ), the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, www.icfo.eu ), the Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB, www.cnb.csic.es), the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII, www.isciii.es), the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT, www.icmat.es). After the success of 1st Edition, two more Severo Ochoa Centreswere included in the programme, the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG, www.crg.eu ), the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (GSE, www.barcelonagse.eu/ ) The associated centres hosted in the 1st Edition, 8 African researchers selected through a rigorous selection process, evaluating the scientific merits and leadership of the applicants as well as the scientific quality and expected impact of their research projects. Successful candidates receive training and integration in a dynamic, multidisciplinary and highly competitive working team, where they are able to develop their research projects and acquire complementary skills, enabling them to transfer their research results into tangible economic and social benefits. 8 more researchers have been selected for the 2nd Edition. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 INDEX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. THE WOMEN FOR AFRICA FOUNDATION 1.1. Principles and aims 1.2. Science and development 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 2.1. General Aim 2.2. Visiting Senior Research Fellowships in Spanish Centers of Excellence 2.3. Roadmap 2.4. Beneficiaries 1st Edition 2.5. Benerficiaries 2nd Edition 3. MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 4. WHY INVESTING IN AFRICAN RESEARCH WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 1. THE WOMEN FOR AFRICA FOUNDATION The Women for Africa Foundation is a private entity created in February 2012. Its board of trustees has representatives from 8 of the most prestigious Spanish companies, as well as from African companies. The Honorary President is H.M. the Queen of Spain, and the executive president is María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, former deputy prime minister of the Government of Spain (2004‐2010) and now a permanent member of the State Council of Spain. The Foundation also has an Advisory Board made up of prestigious African and Spanish leaders, including: the Liberian President and Nobel Peace Prize winner (2011), Ellen Johnson‐Sirleaf, the Vice President of The Gambia, Isatou Njie‐Saidy, the former prime minister of Mozambique, Luisa Dias Diogo, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development of Kenya, Charity Kaluki Ngilu, the first President of the Pan‐African Parliament, Gertrude Mongella or the Gender Commissioner of ECOWAS, Fatimata Dia Sow, among others. 1.1. Principles and aims The Women for Africa Foundation aims to contribute to the economic, social and political development of a continent in the 21st century that still has serious deficiencies, and where the Sustainable Development Goals are still a pending objective. The foundation’s mission is based on the proven conviction that women are the true engine for the continent’s development. This is why, beyond the implicit ethical and democratic perspective, women are a central part of an effective strategy to promote development in Africa in general. As the World Bank indicates, "empowering women and promoting gender equality is essential to achieve sustainable development." Therefore, gender equality is also a requirement of social justice; an intelligent policy for economic growth. Moreover, we are referring to a continent of nearly 1 billion people, where women account for almost two thirds of the population. As the president of the Women for Africa Foundation, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega has often stressed that women "have been forgotten for far too long, if not simply ignored, in the history of mankind. Nevertheless, the truth is that their silent, unacknowledged work has been the basis for maintaining and advancing our societies." Thus, aware that African women have played and still play an essential role in structuring the backbone of their societies, they are seen as the true catalysts for increasing welfare and development. "Improving women’s living conditions mean improving those of their families. Investing in improving women’s education and healthcare saves lives. Putting them in positions where they can show their full potential on an equal footing and with full independence is one of the greatest tools for development and progress." The work of the Women for Africa Foundation mainly aims "to promote development and progress for Africa through women’s empowerment, equal rights and opportunities." The foundation is run along the following principles and values: independence, pluralism, respect, dignity, transparency, austerity, responsibility, efficacy, sustainability, solidarity, peace, dialogue and cooperation. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 These are the guiding principles for the foundation's work in four priority areas: education, healthcare, economic development and empowerment. The foundation’s activity in each of these areas aims to achieve the following ends: a) To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women in Africa. b) To foster activities aimed at supporting African women in the areas of education, healthcare, social and economic development, and childhood. c) To tackle situations of poverty, illness, lack of opportunities, gender‐based violence, and generally all economic, social, educational and healthcare situations that reduce or infringe upon human dignity or the equality of women. 1.2. Science and Development Knowledge is the foundation on which development and progress is based. It is the engine that enables us to understand our reality and responds to old and new demands, giving momentum to the progress of people, organizations and communities. Scientific and technical research, as a great source of knowledge, must therefore take on a fundamental role in our societies’ social, economic and productive means. This is because it is only through discoveries, understanding and innovations that it is possible to improve our world and the lives of those who inhabit it. Africa has been experiencing significant growth in the early years of the 21st century, of about 6% between 2000 and 2010, second only to the Far East. This has enabled the continent to make a significant leap on the global stage. However, this growth has not yet been transformed into a proportionate advance in the welfare of the African population as a whole. To meet the challenge posed to the continent today of fairly and suitably exploiting its significant wealth and distributing its extremely important sources of wealth in a balanced way among all the citizens, it is necessary to foster a socioeconomic model that aims for stable, sustainable and lasting growth whose benefits are reaped by the whole of society. In this model, science, research and innovation must play a key role in accordance with the guidelines of the globalized world that they have been instrumental in creating. This should be done so that, firstly, Africans may be able to live better, but also so that the continent may be able to go from being a receiver to a generator of development in the near future, from a spectator to a player in the field of creating knowledge. And women wish to be and should be involved. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 The debate on the disparities between genders in the field of science and technology in both the public and private spheres is being seen with interest in international organizations, governments, the academic world and civil society, who all recognize that these inequalities affect the population as a whole. Increasing women’s participation in science and technology is essential in reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities and increasing agricultural and industrial productivity. International organisations have recognised and stated this fact. Networks of women scientists are aware of the serious consequences that this underrepresentation has for global development, and as a result they are particularly active in calling attention to this gap and in giving the findings of women researchers the visibility they deserve. They are doing so because women are the first victims of uncontrolled development that depletes the planet's resources, and they have a strong desire to be part of the solution. African women scientists want to contribute to sustainable solutions for human welfare, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. This is because, as Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, said: "Sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible". It is therefore necessary to encourage scientific research and technology transfer in order to transform knowledge into innovation that responds to the population’s needs. Although in Africa the gender gap in the technological and scientific field is still wide, the data from the latest African Innovation Outlook, 2014, published by NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa Development), are encouraging. They show a percentage of women researchers of over 40% in some countries (South Africa, Egypt, Cape Verde and Namibia). However, others do not even reach 20% (Mali, Ethiopia and Malawi). The percentage of women compared to the total number of researchers is an important indicator of progress and development. In 2014, the heads of state of the African Union, aware of the role of technology as a powerful engine for development and that of women scientists as key actors within this, adopted the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA‐2024), a continental framework to accelerate the transition of Africa to an economy based on innovation and knowledge. Nevertheless, the results are still mixed. Investment in this field has not been a priority and the continent is losing its best female scientists to other regions in less need of their contributions. The timing is especially appropriate. Science, technology and innovation are the tools for achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals. They help reduce people’s vulnerabilities to disasters of any nature, to overcome each crisis and learn the lessons from them. In fact, the scientific and technological perspective is stressed in the post‐2015 sustainable development agenda agreed within the United Nations. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 2.1. General Aim WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 The Women for Africa Foundation, true to its mission of contributing to the development of Africa through its women, has launched the SCIENCE BY WOMEN programme aimed at empowering African women researchers, supporting them in their research careers, making their achievements visible, promoting their leadership in the international scientific community and helping to foster the capabilities of their research groups in their countries of origin. It is a programme based on excellence stemming from basic research that generates social impact. To achieve this ambitious goal, FMxA has the support of the Severo Ochoa institutions, whose prestige is unanimously recognized throughout Spain and internationally, thereby ensuring excellence in scientific research in various fields. They are: Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)´s ultimate goal is to foster translation of scientific breakthroughs into novel and more effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Spanish National Biotechnology Centre (CNB) focuses on the application of contemporary biotechnology to major societal challenges in health, environment and agriculture. Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) is specialised in the science and technology of harnessing light as a pervasive and universal tool that benefit health, energy, information as well as safety, security and environment. Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) is a prestigious biomedical research centre focused on communicable and non‐communicable diseases. Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT). Its goal is to generate knowledge in practically all the areas of mathematics, particularly in Algebraic Geometry and Mathematical Physics, Differential Geometry, Symplectic Geometry and Geometric Mechanics, Mathematical Analysis, Differential Equations and Applications, Number Theory, and Group theory. Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) The CRG is an international biomedical research institutes of excellence whose mission is to discover and advance knowledge for the benefit of society, public health and economic prosperity. Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (GSE) is an institution for scientific cooperation in research and graduate education in economics and the social sciences, and draws on the strengths and noteworthy reputations of its four academic units. The following areas of research have been selected as the are priorities for development in Africa: 1. Health 2. Energy, Water and Climate Change 3. Agriculture and Food Safety WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 2.2. Visiting Senior Research Fellowships in Spanish Centres of Excellence Each year a request for applications has launched to select 8 senior women researchers for six‐month fellowships in the associated centres. The Scientific Committee, in a rigorous selection process, evaluate the scientific merits and leadership of the applicants as well as the scientific quality and expected impact of their research projects. Successful candidates receive training and integration in a dynamic, multidisciplinary and highly competitive working team, where they have the opportunity to develop their research projects and acquire complementary skills which enable them to transfer their research results into tangible economic and social benefits. The programme includes: Setting up of a cluster of technology‐transfer experts of both participants and host organisations, to foster the transfer of research and knowledge into products and processes that have an impact on people’s welfare and quality of life, as well as on companies’ productivity and competitiveness. Building of a network of African women researchers who both exhibit and provide professional development, mentorship and support to new participants. The African scientists from the diaspora will also be integrated in order to feed the network with their expertise in non‐African institutions and to keep them connected with home‐countries’ needs. Monitoring and evaluation of research projects developed by beneficiaries to assess their impact and effectiveness on their communities as presented in their application proposal. 2.3. Roadmap A Scientific Committee has been established in Madrid on 1 December 2004 chaired by María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, the President of FMxA, and includes prestigious Spanish, African and American luminaries from the field of research: Margarita Salas, President of the Severo Ochoa Foundation and a member of FMxA’s Advisory Board. Cristina Garmendia, President of Genetrix and a member of FMxA’s Advisory Board. Maria Blasco, Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre Silvia Carrasco, Director of Transference of Knowledge and Technology of the Institute of Photonic Sciences WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 Carmen Castresana, Vice‐ Director of the National Biotechnology Centre Jesús Fernández, Director of Carlos III Health Institute Ana Bravo, Chair of the Equality Commission at Institute of Mathematical Science Sonia Abdelak, Director of the Biomedical, Genomic and Ontogenetic Research Laboratory at the Institut Pasteur in Tunis. Fatimata Dia Sow, the ECOWAS Commissioner of Social Affairs and Gender, Nigeria. Salimata Wade, Director of the Human Nutrition Research Laboratory at Anta Diop University, Senegal. Glenda Gray, President of the Medical Research Council, South Africa. Francisca Nneka Okeke, Director of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nigeria. Pedro Alonso, Director of the World Health Organization’s Malaria Programme, Geneva. Londa Schienberger, Director of the European Union and United States’ Project on Gender in Science, Medicine, Engineering and Innovation at Stanford University, the USA. On 2nd December 2014, with the participation of members of the Scientific Committee and the collaboration of the Ramón Areces Foundation, the 1st Conference on Women, Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa a conference was held that brought together international experts in the field of research, industry and science policies. Its aim is to discuss the most direct ways to improve the quality and impact of research and innovation. There is no doubt that one of these ways is to include the gender dimension in scientific knowledge and its applications WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 2.4. Beneficiaries 1st Edition ANN LOUW Dr. Louw is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa). She holds a PhD from that University as well as an MSc in Biochemistry (cum laude) and a BSc (Hon). She also has a BSc in Biochemistry and Physiology. Mrs. Louw’s current research focuses on phytoestrogenic compounds found in extracts of Cyclopia, a plant indigenous to South Africa that is used to prepare an herbal tea. As indicated, one specific extract, SM6 Met, holds potential for the prevention and/or treatment of breast cancer in that it displays several desirable estrogenic traits. She wishes to continue her research taking it to the next level by identifying the specific compound(s) in the SM6Met conferring the desirable estrogenic attributes and establishing whether synergism and multi target mechanisms of action are of relevance. To achieve the above aims would require the evaluation of many extract and/or compounds at several concentrations. Prof. Louw will be realising this research at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre CHANTAL EBEL Dr. Ebel teaches Molecular Biology at the Institute of Biotechnology of Sfax in Tunisia. She works in a new project aiming to investigate the role of a gene in a durum wheat. This gene acts putatively at the interface of stress perception and cell cycle to maintain cell division in meristematic tissues despite adverse conditions. She will research this issue at the Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB, www.cnb.csic.es), aiming at the socio‐economic impact this study can have in agricultural politics for semi‐arid countries such as Tunisia. Dr. Ebel is Assistant Professor at the Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sfax since 2004. She teaches Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Plant Biotechnology and Microbial Genetics. She is an active member of the group “Plant Protection and Improvement” (under direction of F. Brini) studying plant responses to abiotic stresses in cereals. She holds a DEA from the University of Strasbourg obtained in 1966 for her studies in Trans‐splicing in Euglenas. In 2000 she got her PhD at the same University for her research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Boller. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 COUMBA NIANG Mrs. Niang is a Senegalese and a post‐doctoral student in Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphere et de l’Ocean Simeon‐Fongang (LPAO‐SF). She studied at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD) where she got her Bachelor Degrees and her two Master’s Degrees. In 2015 she earned her PhD in a program of the Federal University of Technology AKure (FUTA) in Nigeria and Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphere et de l’Ocean Simeon Fongang LPAO‐SF in Dakar in the Cheikh Anta Diop University. The title of her dissertation was: “Influence of the Madden‐Julian oscillation on Rainfall Variability over West Africa at Intraseasonal timescale.” Her work will be a first attempt to perform a comprehensive analysis of moisture sources that affect the major precipitation over West Africa during the boreal summer. This potential prediction are of vital importance for water resources and agriculture, which is mainly rain‐fed and, therefore, highly dependent on rainfall. She undertook her research at ICMAT DORCAS OSEI‐SAFO Dr. Osei‐Safo is a Ghanian, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Ghana. She earned both her B.Sc. and her PhD at the same University. Her area of specialization is Natural Product Chemistry. Her research interest is isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and application of quality assurance methods to antimalarial drugs. Over the last five years she has completed a number of researches that include: “The Amide Constituents of Piper guineense Schum and Thonn, as potential anti‐AIDS agents;” “Validation and Applicaton of Qualty Asrance Methods Developed for Selected Antimalarial Drugs in Ghana,” and “Pharmacovigilance on Selected Antimalarial Drugs used in Ghana, Togo and Malawi.” The goal of the anticonvulsant work is to develop a polyherbal anticonvulsant product as an example of utilization of natural resources for quality health. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 JELAN MOFEED EL‐SAYED Dr. Mofeed El‐Sayed is an Egyptian, Associated Professor of Environmental Pollution (Microbiology) at the Faculty of Fish Resources, Suez University. She has a large experience in identification of both marine and fresh water algae, the use of algae as bioindicators for pollution, biomarkers and innovative techniques in intensive aquaculture of marine algae in order to increase productivity in the field of aquaculture and energy production. Her research at the Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia focused on the development of the necessary tools in algae molecular and synthetic biology for accumulation desired products, the production of algae biomass (including sequestration of CO2 from flue gases), use of cyanobacteria for the production of bio‐photovoltaic panels. MANGAKA CLARA MATOETOE Mrs. Matoetoe was born in Lesotho and lives in South Africa. Mrs Matoetoe studied at the University of Lesotho where she got her Bachelor Degree in Science. She obtained again her BSc (hons) and a Master’s Degree at the University of Cape Town. In 1999 she received her PhD at the University of Pretoria. Currently she is associate Professor of Chemistry at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and head of the electrochemistry research group. She has held other positions outside the university such as Quality Control Manager at Lesotho pharmaceutical corporation (LPC). In Spain, Dr. Matoetoe has been working at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, www.icfo.eu). For the last five years she and her team have been studying remediation and detection of trace pollutant in the environment. Among these they assessed potential of biometallic nanomaterials for detection of neverapine. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 NAHLA OSMAN MOHAMED ALI Dr. Ali was born in Atbara, Sudan. She studied at University of Khartoun where she obtained a Bachelor degree in 1993. She continued her studies and in 1998 she got Master ’s Degrees at the University of Glasgow (UK) as well as the University of Khartoum. In 2003 she presented her PhD dissertation “An Investigation of CRK protein kinases of Leishmania and the assessment of their potential as drug targets.” She holds a PhD by the University of Glasgow and the University of Khartoum. Dr. Ali argues “mosquitoes have a significant role as vectors of many serious human and animal diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, lymphatic filariasis and Rift Valley fever. Three genera of medically important mosquitoes are found in Sudan.” Therefore, diseases related to mosquitoes are a very important health problem in the country and the study of its infectivity dynamics is central in setting up control programs. Dr. Ali has focused her research to understand these dynamics and contribute to solving the health problems in Sudan that affect the manpower and the development of the country. She will continue her research at the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII, www.isciii.es). NOSIPHO MOLOTO Dr. Moloto is a South African senior researcher at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. She studied at the University of Zululand where she got her Bcs and her Master’s Degree (Cum Laude). In 2011 she obtained her PhDat the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa). She was a Professor at the University of Johannesburg and a candidate researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Stellenbosch (SA). From 2014 she is a Professor and senior researcher at the University of Witwatersrand. In the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, www.icfo.eu), Dr. Maloto will focus on the synthesis and characterization of metal chalcogenide nanocrystals for application in solar cells. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 2.5. Beneficiaries 2nd Edition IFEOMA ENWEANI Since 15 years Doctor Enweani, who obtained her Ph D in Medical Microbiology in 1998, has been teaching Microbiology in Nigeria. She is presently attached to the Department of Medical Laboratory Science of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She is currently working on the potential use of soursop and sweetsop fruit juices with supplements in the management of diarrhoea and malnutrition in children, with the clear objectives of reaching a drastic reduction of mortality and morbidity in children due to diarrhoea and of creating room for capacity building, empowerment and food security among women and children especially in the developing world. She will undertake her research in the Carlos III Health Institute. YEMISI ADESIJI Dr. Yemisi Adesiji is a Nigerian senior lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo and acting as the head of department of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Ilorin. With over 10 years of teaching experience she has contributed to knowledge of Epidemiology of food borne pathogen of zoonotic importance in Nigeria as show her various publications. Her research interest mainly lays in genomic studies and especially in developing vaccination against Tuberculosis infection in cattle and humans in developing countries. She will undertake her research in the Carlos III Health Institute. CHIAKA ANUMUDU Dr. Chiaka Anumudi is a Nigerian senior lecturer, who obtained her Ph D in Zoology (Cellular Parasitology) at the University of Ibadan. During more than 13 years her research activities have been in the area of the immunopathogenesis and molecular epidemiology of simple and severe malaria in Nigerian endemic country settings. She is currently interested in translational research for control of schistosomiasis especially in the context of co‐
infection with malaria, in addition to her interests in the genetic host‐pathogen interactions. Dr. Anumude will undertake her research in the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 SARRA ARBAOUI Dr. Sarra Arbaoui is a Tunisian reasearch assistant within the High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, Tunisia. She studied at the National Agronomy Institute of Tunisia where she got her Master degree in Crop Sciences, and then her PH. D in Agricultural Sciences, prensenting a thesis on the potential of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for phytoremediation of trace metals polluted soils. In 2014 she won the L’Oreal‐UNESCO award for women in Science and in May 2016 she has been selected to follow a training in leadership, Women for the future, in Sciences Po Paris. She will be pursing her research on the Arsenic signalling and detoxification mechanisms in plants in the Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB) ELIZABETH KIZITO Dr. Elizabeth Kizito has a doctorate degree in Plant breeding obtained from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala and she is currently a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences at the Uganda Christian University, Mukono. She is passionate about improving the plight of the indigenous African vegetables, especially the Solanaceae family, which have great potential in meeting the nutritional needs in Africa, and improving the situation of many women small scale farmers involved in its production in terms of income generation and food security in Uganda and the region. She will undertake her research in the Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 NOBANATHI MAXACATO Nobanathi Maxacato, a young South African doctor, obtained her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pretoria in
2012. She is currently a lecturer and research fellow in the University of Johannesburg where she teaches Chemistry for
Somatology, for chemical engineering, for food and biotechnology and for environmental health. Her current research
aims at finding new catalysts that are capable of solving the problem of surface poisoning at low potentials in Fuel Cells.
Her field of study is nanotechnology. Her current research aims at finding new catalysts that are capable of solving the
problem of surface poisoning at low potentials in Fuel Cells. She will undertake her research at the Institute of Photonic
Sciences, Barcelona
ATINUKE ADEBANJI Dr. Atinuke Adebanji is a Nigerian senior lecturer who works at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology of Kumasi, Ghana. Since 2012 she is a member of the West Africa Climate Change and Land Use (WASCAL)
programme. She has developed a strong understanding of satistical theory and methods with application in classification
techniques and medical sciences, and she is currently developping a research study on predictive spatial analysis of
maternal and neonatal mortality for public health intervention evaluation in Ghana. She will underake her research at
the Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
ELIZABETH KAASE‐BWANGA Dr Elizabeth Kaase-Bwanga holds a PhD in Economics - Rural Economy and Policy analysis, from the Makerere University
of Kampala, Uganda where she is a senior lecturer specializing in Gender and Development Strategies, Feminist Economics
and Gender Planning and Monitoring & Evaluation in Local Development. She will developing at Barcelona Graduate
School of Economics, a research study on the “Gender and Privatization of Health care Systems in Uganda and its
Implications for Health Care Enhancement”, with the objective that her results will unable the government and the health
practicioners improving the Uganda health system.
WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 - 2017
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Collection of data regarding African research institutions. The resulting database has been used to launch the call for applications for the research fellowships. Development of baseline assessment of African selected centres Baseline assessments of innovation policies in selected African centres, using both standardised (African Innovation Outlook 2014) and non‐standardised (questionnaires and interviews) means, to assess their needs prior to the research stays. The results will be evaluated after the research residencies. Programme surveys for mentoring and evaluation of participants in order to ensure the effectiveness of programme. Dissemination of results in a scientific international conference involving top African research centres and scientific institutions. Post‐conference evaluation will be realised through questionnaires and analysis of attendance, Post‐test evaluation of results in collaboration with Scientific Committee. An independent auditing will carry out a final impact assessment of the research project. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017 4. WHY INVESTING IN AFRICAN RESEARCH? The growth of African economy, belatedly foreseen in Europe, is already benefitting Chinese companies and has proved constant, rather than solely linked to minerals and hydrocarbons exports. In fact, it has not collapsed despite the fall in the prices for such commodities, although it has experienced some inflection. African economy continues to grow at a 6 per cent rate thanks to the work of a fledgling middle class and the potential of its population, that 20 years from now will constitute 25 per cent of the global workforce. This vitality is not going to fade, because the group of 15‐29 years old, which makes up half the population, needs consumer goods, lodging, financial services, technology, telecommunications. This population includes superb men and women, engineers, scientists, biotechnologists, with the ability to produce and consume those goods and to be players in an industrial revolution. It is a consumer class that needs construction materials, food and agriculture, pharmaceutical products, computers, digital services... And that refuses to remain passive while receiving them from outside. What Africa needs are partners to go along with its growth on the basis of a more balanced relationship. Telecommunications are a very telling example of this new economic model: in Europe, the business faces a stagnating demand and falling prices. European operators are improving their balance sheets thanks to their African subsidiaries. 600 million Africans have a mobile phone with Internet access and cutting edge apps that make their daily life and their business easier even in rural and hard‐to‐reach areas. Mobile phones are already an educational tool for e‐
learning in some schools, and are destined by 62 per cent of their users to that purpose. The current estimate is that the markets for these devices in Africa will double itself within four years. Africa’s alleged shortages are also opportunities: for instance, work on chirurgical robotics will have a faster growth in Africa than in Europe because there is a lack of operating blocks, and telemedicine, with the possibility of remote diagnostics, is increasingly used because there are not enough doctors and there are many isolated places. The villages in the Sahel region will use renewable energies with intelligent networks sooner than European fields, because in Africa 90 percent of rural communities are not connected to the power grid. The investors that are waging on these opportunities and on the vitality of the markets will get their return. The program Science by Women is built around the ability of African women scientists to research in such growth areas in order to create innovation. The involvement of the private sector ensures synergies that will benefit both the academic sector and the investors’ profit and loss accounts. WOMEN DO SCIENCE | 2nd Edition | 2016 ‐ 2017