Women In Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (WiSTEM) South Sudan: Lets Talk Science

Participants together with panelists pose for a photo during the Girls in ICT Day 2024 Event. Photo Credit: SSWIM/WiSTEM

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Shodier Loth, a pharmacist educated in India, highlighted the challenges of South Sudanese science graduates. Many return home only to find limited job opportunities and often end up in unrelated roles. In her own words, “I studied in India. When you return, you practically become a shopkeeper in South Sudan, wearing your laboratory coat.” The underdevelopment of sectors and infrastructure in South Sudan poses significant limitations, creating a gap between the skills acquired and their practical application.

THE CHALLENGES

South Sudan is transitioning and faces unique challenges that require intentional efforts to solve. While it’s important to encourage girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), we cannot ignore the significant difficulties and limitations they face. It’s puzzling sometimes to figure out what needs to be done. I’ve come to understand that as a country that gained independence in the modern era, South Sudan’s challenges are unlike those of countries that gained independence in the 19th century. Nevertheless, we can only progress with the help of science, technology, and innovation. So, what’s next? We must continually search for strategies that can effectively work and be implemented.

WiSTEM SYMPOSIUM

On 25th March 2024, Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WiSTEM) held a one-day symposium ahead of the #GirlsInICTDay 2024 celebration in April this year. This event was the third edition of the #LetsTalkScienceSeries symposium focusing on Women, Science, and Leadership Symposium.

WiSTEM South Sudan (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a consortium of South Sudanese women and girls in the STEM fields. WiSTEM was initiated as a collaborative project between female South Sudanese Chevening alumni in the STEM fields, other South Sudanese women in the STEM fields, and South Sudanese Women In Medicine (SSWIM)- the lead non-profit in this consortium and the current implementing partner of WiSTEM (as espoused in the WiSTEM/SSWIM memorandum of understanding).The WiSTEM Project is funded by the Chevening Alumni Program FundUK government scholarships and is championed by South Sudanese female Chevening alumni in the STEM fields.

This one-day event had two main panel discussions. The first panel focused on “Advancing science leadership for women and girls in South Sudan,” and the second one focused on “Breaking barriers in science and leadership for women and girls in South Sudan.”

Breaking barriers in science and leadership for women and girls in South Sudan panelists. Photo Credit: SSWIM/WiSTEM

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Advancing Science Leadership for Women and Girls

The first panel featured STEM leaders who shared their experiences, challenges, and strategies for navigating their leadership roles. They discussed using digital tools such as calendars on their phones to manage schedules and smart home appliances to perform efficient chores. They also emphasized the importance of communicating ahead of time with colleagues, friends, and family to manage expectations, delegate tasks, and even keep track of their menstrual cycles to plan and organize work effectively without being interrupted by hormonal imbalances, which affect their productivity.

The second panel was unique. Since the launch of the #LetsTalkScience series symposium event, in one way or another, I have always had to find myself on the panel or actively contributing to the discussion. In fact, during the second edition of this series, I became the common denominator throughout the different panels as I had to share my experiences as a leader in Technology and, on a different panel, talk about our work as GoGirls ICT Initiative. I felt exhausted and tired that day, but that’s part of my Job.

On this symposium, when the WiSTEM team reached out for both of us to be on the panel, I remember with my colleague, Eva Yayi, Co-founder of GoGirls ICT Initiative, we deliberately looked at the girls whom we had interacted with and suggested names of ladies for this panel. We concluded that one of us would be on the first panel only. It was about time for us to hear from the freshly employed young women in the field of STEM to understand their challenges, experiences, and limitations and, if possible, propose working strategies they can adapt to grow and excel in their careers.

BREAKING BARRIERS IN SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP

Women make up only 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the gender gaps are exceptionally high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and engineering.

In March 2023, 211 Check on the Senior Four Results Performance Index report stated that twenty students — twelve males and eight females — had secured the top ten positions. Remarkably, all but one of these students hailed from the science section. The report also highlights the gender disparity in science subject performance among girls.

CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN IN [STEM]

During these panel discussions, I noted the challenges the women in STEM faced, as highlighted by the panelists.

1. Underpayment: Women often receive less pay despite equal contributions. Even when they are doing a lot, the income is not equivalent to what is being delivered just because you are a woman; there is a common belief: why does she even need the money?
2. Imposter syndrome: Self-doubt despite qualifications and achievements.
3. Performance Pressure: Women must work harder to prove themselves.
4. Gender Stereotypes: Women are often directed away from STEM fields. Information Technology is not for you. Women are constantly told they are fit for the arts, not the sciences.
5. Cultural Barriers: Societal expectations hinder networking and career growth. Women are often expected to be home earlier than men to care for home affairs. Imagine you are in the same sector as men, who have the liberty to be out until late networking and connecting, and yet, as a girl or woman, you don’t have such an opportunity; it will be hard to grow careerwise.
6. Misogyny: Misogynistic behaviors in some institutions have forced women to change careers from STEM to something else.

A participant contributing to the discussion during the event. Photo Credit: SSWIM/WiSTEM

SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES

These two panels concluded with an open discussion on overcoming the challenges we face as women in STEM and achieving United Nations SDG 5 — gender equality, which is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world and this can only happen when women are inclusively involved. As highlighted below, there was no other way to end this discussion than with solutions and strategies within our reach as women.

1. Networking: Share opportunities among women in the sector by networking with other women within the industry. There are always networking events, such as the NCA Town Hall event in March this year, Women’s Day celebrations, and symposiums within Juba, for women to attend and connect in the different sectors and learn one or two things that could benefit them more.
2. Leadership Engagement: Create inclusive and transparent platforms.
3. Infrastructure Investment: Develop places for skilled talents to apply their knowledge.
4. Salary Negotiation: Educate women on negotiating better salaries and understanding contracts.
5. Capacity Building: Commit to delivering on tasks and continuous learning.
6. Career Passion and Flexibility: Stay passionate and adaptable.
7. Grounded Participation: Ensure women’s inclusion from the start.
8. Co-sharing Spaces: Use current labs for hands-on skill development and student experimentation.GoGirls ICT Initiative has a laboratory chemists can use to make their products. At the same time, educators can use it as a demonstration lab for experiments so that learners at the secondary school level or university students can use it to test their ideas. Initially, we collaborated with WiSTEM, who used our computers for their training. Of course, spaces like the UniPod South Sudan are all accessible for us to use, so from time to time, visit, reach out, or even inquire how you can use such spaces as a scientist because that’s very important.

FINAL REMARKS

While much remains to be done to develop STEM fields and encourage more women in STEM, progress has been made. Initiatives like the GoGirls ICT Initiative, WiSTEM, and Banat Initiative for Leadership and Digital Development (BiLLD), National Communication Authority (NCA) demonstrate collective efforts. I conclude, “Unless we open certain doors for ourselves, no one will.” Let’s continue speaking up and doing the work!