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