The new face of the DST

Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor plans to increase the visibility of women in the sector.

While the number of women has increased in the science and technology fields, Pandor is still concerned that many of them publish fewer scientific articles. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is looking at ways to step up the contributions women make to the industry.

“We can no longer only focus on providing access for women to these fields. Our latest surveys show there are many women working in the industry. However, they patent fewer innovations and don't publish as much as their male colleagues,” she says.

The department has tasked an indicator committee to research why women are less active in the fields. It will report back to the minister with recommendations on how to boost publication and patenting by women.

Pandor says it is also not enough to have women in the science fields, while not increasing the visibility of information about what they do. She says one way is to increase the media coverage of science and technology.

“There are so many exceptional innovators in technology and science in SA, but there are few places where you can read about them,” she explains. Pandor says increasing the number of women in the technical media will help increase the availability of the information to the public.

alert the country that these opportunities exist and make it enticing for people to become a part of it.”

Pandor says that, to encourage the sector to grow, her job now is to excite government about the possibility of the industries. She hopes president Jacob Zuma will place an emphasis on technology and innovation in his state of the nation address next week.

It seems her efforts are taking seed, following the president's announcement in Ethiopia yesterday emphasising the importance of SA winning the bid for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, one of Pandor's highlighted projects for the year.

The president said yesterday that hosting the SKA could prove Africa's leadership in science and innovation.

Pandor says it is vital that all of the department's ducks are in a row when it comes to the SKA. “Australia is a competent competing bidder and I have to keep my finger on the pulse with this project. We have to achieve our deadlines so when it comes to the winner, we will be at the top,” she adds.

The DST has several combined projects with other departments that include the coordination of research and development. One project, which the minister says is in the pipeline, is to try and research the active ingredient in antiretrovirals so that they can be produced locally instead of imported at massive expense.

While the minister admits her new portfolio field has been a challenge, she is excited to be a part of such vibrant industries. Pandor sees her tenure in the department as an opportunity to help develop SA.