Date: 04/03/2003
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Sonjica: Announcing the launch of women in S&T reference group
STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, BUYELWA SONJICA, MP, ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REFERENCE GROUP ON WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SARG) AT A MEDIA CONFERENCE, Pretoria, 4 March 2003
The Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, wishes to announce the launch of the South African Reference Group on Women in Science and Technology (SARG) on 7 March 2003 in Cape Town.
Minister Brigitte Mabandla (former Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology) is to be commended for her persistence in championing the development of this group.
The establishment of the SARG is an active implementation of the National Research and Development Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet in 2002.
The Research and Development Strategy advocates the need for the empowerment of women in the science, engineering and technology sector in order to enhance women's involvement in contributing to South Africa's economic development and growth. It also emphasises the need for special programmes to address the demands of society in a responsive manner by harnessing developments in the science and technology fields. Women account for over half of the population and are essential partners in turning the tide against poverty through the development of innovative technology and its applications.
SARG has two major objectives. The first is to develop strategies that address identified obstacles and challenges that women face throughout their lives in entering the field of science and technology due to various socialisation, educational, environmental and cultural barriers.
The second objective is to achieve gender mainstreaming within research and development agendas by ensuring that all these projects consider women as beneficiaries or end-users of the products generated. This would see a resultant improvement in the quality of life of women and their communities.
These two objectives converge to facilitate the entry of women in wealth-generation areas and uplift them from bearing the brunt of poverty.
Since 1990, the participation of women in research as measured by their publication output has not exceeded 10-15% of total South African publications. This is an indication of how few women scientists, engineers and technologists are participating in academic research and development. DST is committed to encouraging women to embark on science-related careers. Its interventions in this regard include increased support for those studying mathematics, science and technology. There are various endeavours to make these subjects seem attractive, accessible and relevant. DST's approach to human resource development is rooted in the need to increase the number of women from the previously disadvantaged communities entering sciences, and thus, maximising South Africa's potential in the pursuit of excellence.
To address this problem, we need to do the following:
* Increase the number of young women, particularly young black women, with good passes in Grade 12 mathematics and science
* Attract young female matriculants into degree courses in science and engineering disciplines
* Increase the number of women participating in postgraduate science, engineering and technology research by developing special funding programmes
* Ensure that the centres of excellence envisaged in the National R&D Strategy are strongly gender-inclusive and have programmes to empower women.
Women have been wary of traversing certain traditionally male-dominated areas of science. Considering South Africa's distinctive competitive advantage in fields such as astronomy, human palaeontology and Antarctic research, it is only appropriate for us to stimulate women's entry into such fields.
Deputy Minister Sonjica is confident that the launch of the SARG will leverage scientific and technological career opportunities for the empowerment of women, which together with gender mainstreaming of research will contribute to the eradication of poverty and the creation of a better life for our people.
Contact: Andrew Aphane on 082 387 5615
Issued by Department of Science and Technology
4 February 2003
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Sonjica: Announcing the launch of women in S&T reference group
STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, BUYELWA SONJICA, MP, ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REFERENCE GROUP ON WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SARG) AT A MEDIA CONFERENCE, Pretoria, 4 March 2003
The Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, wishes to announce the launch of the South African Reference Group on Women in Science and Technology (SARG) on 7 March 2003 in Cape Town.
Minister Brigitte Mabandla (former Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology) is to be commended for her persistence in championing the development of this group.
The establishment of the SARG is an active implementation of the National Research and Development Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet in 2002.
The Research and Development Strategy advocates the need for the empowerment of women in the science, engineering and technology sector in order to enhance women's involvement in contributing to South Africa's economic development and growth. It also emphasises the need for special programmes to address the demands of society in a responsive manner by harnessing developments in the science and technology fields. Women account for over half of the population and are essential partners in turning the tide against poverty through the development of innovative technology and its applications.
SARG has two major objectives. The first is to develop strategies that address identified obstacles and challenges that women face throughout their lives in entering the field of science and technology due to various socialisation, educational, environmental and cultural barriers.
The second objective is to achieve gender mainstreaming within research and development agendas by ensuring that all these projects consider women as beneficiaries or end-users of the products generated. This would see a resultant improvement in the quality of life of women and their communities.
These two objectives converge to facilitate the entry of women in wealth-generation areas and uplift them from bearing the brunt of poverty.
Since 1990, the participation of women in research as measured by their publication output has not exceeded 10-15% of total South African publications. This is an indication of how few women scientists, engineers and technologists are participating in academic research and development. DST is committed to encouraging women to embark on science-related careers. Its interventions in this regard include increased support for those studying mathematics, science and technology. There are various endeavours to make these subjects seem attractive, accessible and relevant. DST's approach to human resource development is rooted in the need to increase the number of women from the previously disadvantaged communities entering sciences, and thus, maximising South Africa's potential in the pursuit of excellence.
To address this problem, we need to do the following:
* Increase the number of young women, particularly young black women, with good passes in Grade 12 mathematics and science
* Attract young female matriculants into degree courses in science and engineering disciplines
* Increase the number of women participating in postgraduate science, engineering and technology research by developing special funding programmes
* Ensure that the centres of excellence envisaged in the National R&D Strategy are strongly gender-inclusive and have programmes to empower women.
Women have been wary of traversing certain traditionally male-dominated areas of science. Considering South Africa's distinctive competitive advantage in fields such as astronomy, human palaeontology and Antarctic research, it is only appropriate for us to stimulate women's entry into such fields.
Deputy Minister Sonjica is confident that the launch of the SARG will leverage scientific and technological career opportunities for the empowerment of women, which together with gender mainstreaming of research will contribute to the eradication of poverty and the creation of a better life for our people.
Contact: Andrew Aphane on 082 387 5615
Issued by Department of Science and Technology
4 February 2003
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
