Page 28 - Woman to Woman Magazine: Special Edition 2020

INNOVATION

African Scientists

Two Batswana Women Scientists

Win the L’oreal-UNESCO for

Women in Science Awards 2020

he Fondation L’Oréal together
with UNESCO revealed the
11th Sub-Saharan Africa
TYoung Talent Awards L’Oréal-
UNESCO For Women in Science, which
rewards 20 women researchers for
the academic excellence of their work.
Coming from 16 countries, these 15 PhD
students and 5 post-doctorates embody,
through their backgrounds and research
subjects, all the diversity and potential of
tomorrow’s African science.
Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH)
announced that two women from
Botswana; LaToya Seoke & Tsaone
Tamuhla were awarded the Doctorate
award and received prize money of
€10,000.00 each. The 2 women boost a
rich portfolio of project as follows;
LaToya Seoke, PhD Student, Tsaone Tamuhla is collecting clinical and Science program since its creation in
Biological Sciences genetic data to better understand the 1998. Thanks to these Awards, young
emerging pandemic of type 2 diabetes women researchers are receiving financial
ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary in Africa. Given that most research has support, through grants of €10,000 for
Institute, University of Pretoria (South focused on the role of lifestyle in the PhD students and €15,000 for post-
Africa) occurrence of the disease, the genetic doctorates, in order to enable them to
LaToya Seoke is focused on the factors in African populations are still pursue and consolidate their research
development of diagnostic tools to detect poorly known. She believes that the work.
the foot-and-mouth disease virus, which is barriers faced by women scientists in
highly present in goats in southern Africa. Africa testify to their resilience and Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice-
The control and possible eradication the fundamental importance their President of the Fondation L’Oréal, said,
of the disease, considered as the most contribution may have for research. “The need for research by Africans for
important livestock disease on the Africa has never been greater to address
continent from a financial point of view, The jury of the 2020 Sub-Saharan Africa the challenges facing the continent. To
would have a significant impact on the Fondation L’Oréal Young Talents Awards, overcome the current crisis, Africa’s
economies of many sub-Saharan African chaired by Professor Nelson Torto, research sector must accelerate its
countries. Through her research, she Executive Director of the African Academy transformation by becoming even more
hopes to contribute more generally to the of Sciences, selected these 20 Young digitally connected and empowering
eradication of infectious diseases in Africa. Talents from nearly 330 applications. young women who wish to pursue
They all have in common the excellence of scientific careers.”
Tsaone Tamuhla, PhD Student, their projects and the desire to contribute
Computer and Information Science to fuelling innovation in Africa. They are Acknowledging the Batswana 2 winners
joining the community of 3,400 women at a “meet & greet” session, Minister of
Computational Biology, University of researchers around the world who have Tertiary Education, Research, Science &
Cape Town (South Africa) been supported by the For Women in Technology, Douglas Letsholathebe said,

28 Noble Magazine // 2020 Special Edition