Physicists are among many scientists playing an important role in the world’s battle against the unfolding impact of a devastating pandemic.
It is a scary and exciting time for the many scientists who are engaged in the daily work of helping the world resolve this mammoth challenge.
Unfortunately, few among us are women.
Over the years women have achieved great things in physics and science in general, but the world has barely scratched the surface when it comes to making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) accessible to women.
As a result, many young women and girls have limited access to enjoy the benefits of a dynamic career in science.
The SA Institute of Physics (SAIP) has 1,135 registered physicists of whom 921 are men and 214 are women.
While not all physicists in the country are registered members of the organisation, these numbers reflect the slow transformation within the profession.
According to the Unesco report titled “Cracking the code: Girls’ and Women’s Education in STEM”, only 35% of STEM students in higher education globally are women.
It is for this reason that the Women in Physics in South Africa (WiPiSA), which is a women’s affiliate of the SAIP, has been working to support and encourage women to consider careers in physics.
This is in line with the overall global campaign to encourage more girls to study STEM subjects.
From our lived experiences and international surveys, we have learnt that many women in the field still face sexism, harassment, and a general institutional culture that does not support their growth.
The conversations around the empowerment and inclusion of women in science have largely happened among us as professionals.
This needs to change.
We must shift the focus of these discussions to the grass roots level so that the information can reach the ears of young girls in rural villages, in towns and townships across SA.
It is about time that we make the girl child aware that a woman’s place can be in a science laboratory or any place where she is able to fulfil her wildest dreams and affect the lives of those around her.
While conversations are important, we have to make sure that we take action.
This involves making sure that both girls and boys have access to resources that will open their eyes to the possibilities that lie beyond scientific exploration.
Sadly, there are still many children, especially in rural areas, who do not have access to science labs at school level.
Action can also come in the form of running information campaigns and visiting schools to inspire young women to pursue careers in STEM.
We also need to change how we speak to children about science by refraining from saying things that make it seem as if girls cannot do science.
This is where parents, teachers and mass media can assist. The role of physicists in our society goes beyond the current pandemic.
Physicists are the people who discovered the electron, and therefore all electrical and electronic devices come from their work.
They are the people who discovered X-rays so that we can see the state of a patient’s lungs without surgery.
They are the people who understand radio waves, which make it possible for you to use a cellphone to call for help or chat when you are lonely.
They are the people who discovered microwaves, which help us warm up food in our homes.
Simply put, physicists are problem solvers.
And as women in physics in SA, we hope to go beyond our daily work as scientists to help the girl child discover the wonderful experience of a career in science.
-Dr Sylvia Ledwaba is the chair of WiPiSA and a senior researcher at the University of Limpopo’s Materials Modelling Centre.
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