Winners’ circle: Prof Caroline Ncube bags Women in Science Award

20 August 2024 | Story Kamva Somdyala. Photo Je’nine May. Voice Cwenga Koyana. Read time 5 min.

Professor Caroline Ncube, from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Law, was announced as the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) 2024 Distinguished Women Researchers: Humanities and Social Science winner on Thursday, 15 August.

A flagship event of the DSI, the annual South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA), which was held in Mpumalanga this year, recognises and rewards excellence by women scientists and researchers, and profiles them as role models for younger women.

Professor Ncube’s primary area of research is in intellectual property (IP) law, focusing on innovation and development aspects, specifically on how it can be used to better lives, particularly in relation to education, health, climate change and economic development.

The theme for the 2024 SAWiSA was “Transition towards an innovation economy: The role of women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)”. The innovation economy is an inclusive concept encompassing various sectors, namely, creative and cultural endeavours, energy and environment, water and ocean management, caregiving and assistance, the social sector and public services, and the often-overlooked contributions of unrecognised work, among others.

After receiving her award, Ncube said: “Being among all the finalists of the 2024 SAWiSA awards was a great affirmation. Just looking around and seeing generations of women in science all on a mission to heal the nation and world with their work was so inspiring. It shows us what women in science and academia can achieve and what those following us can also achieve. Igama lamakhosikazi malibongwe (Praise be to womankind).”

Truly remarkable women

Commenting on an evening of success, UCT’s acting deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, Professor Jeff Murugan, said: “We are proud of the recognition received by so many of our women in science for their outstanding work in their respective fields, especially as we celebrate Women’s Month.”

He added: “A concerning gender gap persists worldwide in STEM fields where women are still under-represented. By supporting their success and highlighting their achievements, we contribute to strengthening the presence and influence of women in STEM disciplines.”

“By supporting their success and highlighting their achievements, we contribute to strengthening the presence and influence of women in STEM disciplines.”

Dr Linda Mtwisha, the executive director of research at UCT, said this recognition is a powerful reminder of the brilliance, dedication and innovation women bring to their work every day.

“Their achievements remind us of the indispensable role women play in shaping the future of science and technology. UCT is home to some truly remarkable women who are trailblazers across various fields and are driving impact in the world. We remain steadfast in our commitment to inclusivity and to empowering diverse research voices that enrich our understanding of the world while leading the charge in STEM research and innovation.”

“We recognise the importance of empowering early career research, particularly women to enhance their research capacities.”

Next generation of women scholars

UCT’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity extends beyond celebrating the achievements of its current women scholars. Through initiatives like the Emerging Researcher Programme (ERP), the university has made significant strides in transforming the demographic profile of its academic staff to be more inclusive and diverse.

“We recognise the importance of empowering early-career research, particularly women, to enhance their research capacities and ensure their voices are just as prominent in the global academic community. This support will ensure that the future of academia is more inclusive, diverse and reflective of the world we live in,” added Dr Mtwisha.

Several UCT postgraduates were also presented with master’s and doctoral fellowships. They are:

Kathleen Charlton: MSc, specialising in astronomy with a focus on galaxy evolution, active galactic nuclei (AGN) and neutral hydrogen gas (HI). In her current research, she is investigating the relationship between HI and AGN by searching for HI absorption within these galaxies. She is undertaking this research using observations from the MeerKAT telescope in the MIGHTEE survey, using new techniques to blindly search for the absorption.
Kelebogile Gasealahwe: is currently enrolled for a PhD with a focus on Stellar astrophysics - X-ray binaries. In her current research, she is investigating low mass neutron star X-ray binaries with a focus on the radio wavelength, using the MeerKAT telescope. She is studying the physical mechanisms responsible for the relativistic outflows (jets) of these objects during X-ray outbursts. She hopes her research will help expand the knowledge of neutron star X-ray binaries and the processes involved when the jets of these systems are produced during outburst events.
Pearly Joubert: is pursuing an MSc in neuroscience, investigating the impact of adjunctive acupuncture on brain structural–functional connectivity (SC–FC) coupling and motor performance in ischemic stroke patients. Her findings are pivotal, considering the limited research on acupuncture's effect on SC–FC coupling and motor performance in this space. She hopes her research will underscore the significance of combining acupuncture with physiotherapy to enhance brain structural and functional changes and motor function in ischemic stroke patients, ultimately improving their quality of life.
Philadelphia Ngobeni: Her PhD research focuses on modelling and kinetic study of nitrogen species removal in tannery wastewater post-treatment using microalgae-based treatment. The aim of the study is to simulate a model that will be used as a tool to aid decision makers when upgrading and improving the sustainability and efficiency of wastewater treatment systems.

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