It was a week unlike any other. As South Africa marked National Science Week, a special glow radiated from the Anton Lembede Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy. Here, science was re-imagined through the voices of women and girls who are shaping the future.
During the Women’s Day, the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation hosted “The Untold Stories of Women Scientists in Umzansi”, a heartfelt tribute to the brilliance and bravery of women who dared to dream beyond the lab coats and lecture halls. It was a day where science met storytelling, where inspiration echoed through the corridors, and where young girls gathered with wide eyes and open hearts.
The event welcomed an impressive array of speakers—pioneers in their fields, each with a story that reached far beyond the textbooks. Among them were the exceptional MUT Women Scientists, whose voices carried the quiet fire of experience.
Sthembile Nkosi, from the Department of Nature Conservation at MUT, took to the stage with a presentation titled “Wild Ideas, Bold Futures: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Science.” Nkosi spoke of the wilderness—not just of nature, but of uncharted careers and unexplored potential. Nkosi’s journey, filled with both thorns and triumphs, resonated deeply with the young girls who dreamt of saving ecosystems or discovering new species. Her message was clear: science belongs to all, especially to those bold enough to claim it.
Next was Nokukhanya Thembane, a luminary in Biomedical Sciences and the proud recipient of the 2024 Women-in-Science Crown. Thembane’s voice was calm, her presence commanding. She recounted late nights in the lab, moments of doubt, and the quiet victories that come from persistence. Her story was not just about achievements—it was about the power of believing in oneself when no one else does.
The session was gracefully facilitated by Dr Xolile Ngubane, from the Office of the Vice- Chancellor, whose guidance added depth to every conversation. Under her watchful eye, the event unfolded like a tapestry of talent and tenacity.
The MUT scientists shared the stage with remarkable peers from UKZN, the NRF, and Anton Lembede MST Academy, as well as female artisans who triumphed at the World Skills Awards. Each story added a new thread to the rich fabric of female excellence in science—diverse, determined, and deeply inspiring.
Throughout the day, young girls in attendance—students of MST—listened with awe. They weren’t just hearing stories; they were witnessing possibilities. They saw versions of themselves reflected in these scientists—women who had walked through barriers and emerged stronger.
As Women’s Month draws to a close, so too did the event, but not without a resounding sense of pride. The stories shared were no longer untold. They now live in the minds of every girl who dared to dream a little bigger.
In celebrating these trailblazing women, MUT once again raised its flag high, standing tall as a beacon of hope, progress, and unstoppable female brilliance.
The future is female—and she’s wearing a lab coat.