‘Women should not only be present in science – they must shape its direction’

MORE than 30 years ago, South Africa took its bold first steps into democracy. It was a moment of unprecedented hope, not just for political freedom, but for the transformation of society in all its dimensions. As the country reflects on passing its three-decade milestone, it's an opportune time to assess the progress made by women in science, technology and innovation (STI).

- DR RAKESHNIE RAMOUTAR-PRIESCHL

While the road has been uneven, the strides that have been made are undeniable. This year marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global agenda for advancing women's rights which includes their access to education, technology and leadership.

As we mark just over 30 years of freedom and reflect on 30 years of global gender advocacy since the Beijing resolution, we must shift our efforts from a focus on participation to a demand for leadership. Women should not only be present in science - they must shape its direction. That means ensuring that women lead laboratories, policy development, global scientific collaborations, and research and training institutions. It also means rethinking how we define innovation — more value needs to be placed on community-based knowledge, indigenous science and interdisciplinary approaches that centre on people, not just products.