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Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
The South African landscape
Women in Academic Biosciences
A global look at Women’s Leadership in Biotechnology Research
1Ms G Loots, 2Prof P Terblanche and 2Ms H van Zyl
1SA National Department of Science and Technology2SA Medical Research Council
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Outline
Setting the scene – the National Biotechnology Audit
Policy framework and National System of Innovation
Biotechnology programmes
South African statistics
Female role models
Conclusion
Recommendations
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
National Biotechnology Audit, setting the scene
South Africa is the only mega-country in Africa and one of 14 in the world
The main instruments for the implementation of the National Biotechnology Strategy are the four Regional Innovation Centres:
Cape Biotech, BioPAD, ECoBio, and PlantBio - the National Bioinformatics Network and the Public Understanding of Biotechnology Programme.
The 2007 DST Ten Year Plan sets the vision that South Africa should be “among the global top ten nations in the world in terms of the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, flavour, fragrance and biopesticide industries” by 2018.
by the SA Dept of Science and Technology (DST) in 2007
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Policy FrameworkSouth Africa has several Acts and Policies
2001: National Biotechnology
Strategy
2006: National Nano-
technology Strategy
1996: White paper on Science
and Technology
There are several other enabling and supporting Acts.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
National System of InnovationThe intellectual framework for policy is the National System for Innovation (NSI)
It focuses on the role of technology in economic growth and supports innovation and technology diffusion.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Capacity BuildingProgrammes enabled through policies
SA Reference Group on Women in Science and Technology
Women in Science Awards
NRF: Thuthuka Programme and Women-in-Research project, 2001
National Science and Technology Awards
Tshumisano Technology Station Programme
to name a few …
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Women in Academia
1992 – 2001:
A marked shift in enrolments in higher education
Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in South Africa. 2004. Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University. Report to the DST.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Post-graduate Statistics
University FTE enrolments by sex and by level of study (2001)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Women 58% 58% 42%
Men 42% 42% 58%
Undergraduate (N=313670)
Lower postgraduate (N=53523)
Upper postgraduate (N=38131)
University FTE graduations by sex and by level of study (2001)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Women 64% 57% 43%
Men 36% 43% 57%
Undergraduate (N=48150)
Lower postgraduate (N=17915)
Upper postgraduate (N=6829)
Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in South Africa. 2004. Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University. Report to the DST.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Women representation in Scientific Domains
In 2001, female Doctoral students were best represented in the Health Sciences with 47% of all Doctoral enrolments and 49% of all Doctoral graduations in that year.
By contrast, 69% of Doctoral enrolments and graduations in the Natural Sciences & Engineering were amongst men.
University Doctoral FTE enrolments by sex and by broad field of study (2001)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Women 41% 31% 47%
Men 59% 69% 53%
Social Sciences & Humanities (N=3111)
Natural Sciences & Engineering
(N=2127)
Health Sciences (N=991)
Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in South Africa. 2004. Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University. Report to the DST.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Publication Outputs
Despite the growth in the numbers of female staff in higher education institutions and government SETI’s, less than one third of active publishing scientists were women.
Since 1990 women scientists’ contribution has increased – albeit in small increments – from 16% in 1990 to 23% in 2001.
Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in South Africa. 2004. Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University. Report to the DST.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Grants by NRF and MRC
Distribution of NRF grant- holders, and monetary value of grants, by sex (1995, 1998, 2001)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Men 72% 85% 79%
Women 28% 15% 21%
1995 (N=4728)
1998 (N=1838)
2001 (N=1736)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Men 86% 89% 81%
Women 14% 11% 19%
1995 (R78.2m)
1998 (R130.3m)
2001 (R127.0m)
Sex distribution of MRC self- initiated grant recipients (2000- 2002)
40%
60%56%
44%
59%
41%
0%
50%
100%
2000 2001 2002
Women Men
Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in South Africa. 2004. Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University. Report to the DST.
Between 1996-2002, the vast majority of rated scientists in all categories in the Natural Sciences & Engineering were men.
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Biotechnology in SA
The total number of employees in the biotechnology active firms exceeded 72800, of those 2051 were involved with biotechnology related activities (up from 1800 during 2004). Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDIs) were 59% and females 52%.
Female = 52%
Male = 48%
National Biotechnology Audit. 2007. Biotechnology Use and Development in SA. Dept. of Science and Technology.
2006 Bio-employees
MastersPhDNoneMatricDiplomaDegree
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Biotechnology Audit, MRC 2002 - 2005
Situational analysis 2002-2005, Prof Petro Terblanche and Dr Martie van der Walt, MRC
Female leaders
TB Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit – Dr Karin Weyer (Director)
MRC/UCT Research Group for Receptor Biology - Dr Colleen A. Flanagan (Co-Director)
Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit - Prof Valerie Mizrahi (Director)
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Female Role ModelsLeading women in Biosciences / Biotechnology
Prof Himla Soodyall
Prof Brenda Wingfield
Prof Jennifer Thompson
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Conclusion
SA policy framework •There exists an enabling environment through the DST
Gaps•Not information on women in biotechnology•Not enough current research on gender equality
Scoreboard •Does not exist on a national level with indicators to measure progress and evaluate projects
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
Recommendations
Review current initiatives for theirAppropriateness
Successes and outputs to implement interventions
Create and maintain a database of women in biosciences
Girls and young womenVertically integrate initiatives into high school level
Provide gender-specific performance incentives
Support women role models and mentoring schemes
The workplaceRetain women in bioscience jobs via professional development, career advancement, networking
Women in Academic Biosciences, a South African Landscape
THANK YOU
Ms Glaudina Loots, Director: Health Innovation, SA National Dept of Science and Technology
Prof Petro Terblanche, Executive Director: Technology and Innovation, SA Medical Research Council
Ms Hendra van Zyl, Division Manager: Web and Media Technologies, SA Medical Research Council