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26 October 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo SUPPLIED
Dr Yolandi Schoeman
Dr Yolandi Schoeman, a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) at the University of the Free State (UFS), attended the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference in China.

Dr Yolandi Schoeman, a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) at the University of the Free State (UFS), represented South Africa at the recently concluded 2023 World Women Scientists Conference in China.

She was part of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals (SACNASP) delegation at this global event, which was made possible through a collaboration between SACNASP, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). She was also invited to participate in a panel discussion on science and the future of women in science.

Dr Schoeman, a distinguished scientist and ecological engineer in South Africa, said it is an honour to have received the invitation to represent South Africa at the conference. The event, co-sponsored by CAST and the People's Government of Zhejiang Province, took place from 13 to 15 October 2023 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China.

Foster international collaborations and partnerships

“It was a great experience to represent South Africa at the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference,” Dr Schoeman said. “It's a tremendous privilege to be part of such a prestigious global event and to have the opportunity to showcase South Africa's contributions to the field of science on an international stage.

“I had hopes for this conference which were multifaceted. I hoped to foster international collaborations and partnerships with fellow women scientists from around the world. These collaborations between China and the University of the Free State, including the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa, can lead to groundbreaking research, shared knowledge, and innovative solutions to some of our planet's most pressing challenges.”

She said she would like to think she achieved what she set out to, and realised her hopes of establishing important international networks for future collaboration between the UFS and China, especially related to addressing sustainability challenges in Africa. 

With the overarching theme of "Openness, Trust, Innovation, and Development”, the conference focused on fostering a global community with a shared future for humanity, and advancing the goals of sustainable development. 

Importance of conference for women scientists 

According to Dr Schoeman, the importance of this conference for women scientists cannot be overstated. “It provides a unique platform for women scientists to showcase their achievements, share their experiences, and build networks with peers and mentors from diverse backgrounds,” she said. 

“The conference is a powerful avenue to address gender disparities in science and promote inclusivity, ultimately paving the way for more women to confidently pursue and excel in STEM fields. I aimed to contribute my insights and expertise to discussions on advancing science, technology, and innovation. 

“I looked forward to learning from the experiences and accomplishments of other women scientists, gaining new perspectives and ideas that can be applied in my own work. Overall, my goal was to return from the conference with enhanced knowledge and a broader network to make a positive impact in the field of science, both in South Africa representing the UFS and on a global scale.”

Alliance of World Women Scientists

Dr Schoeman, who works closely with Prof Paul Oberholster, Director of the CEM and an expert in wastewater treatment, was also invited to participate in the launch of the Alliance of World Women Scientists. This alliance, which was launched during the conference, seeks to bring together women scientists from across the globe, along with academic institutions and organisations representing them. 

Dr Schoeman's participation in this global gathering is a testament to her dedication and contributions to the field of science. South Africa takes pride in her representation at this prestigious event and looks forward to the insights and collaborations that will emerge from her involvement.

News Archive

Historians must place African history on world stage – Dr Zeleza
2017-05-30

 Description: Historians must place African history on world stage Tags: Historians must place African history on world stage

From the left: Panellists Rev Henry Jackson,
Prof Irikidzayi Manase and Arno Van Niekerk at a book
launch and panel discussion on Africa Day hosted by the
UFS Sasol Library.
Photo: Mamosa Makaya

“African historians must take seriously the challenge of placing African history in world history, and in the history of our species, Homo sapiens.”

With these words, Dr Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, Vice Chancellor of the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, stressed the continent’s challenge.

According to him the contest should continue to recover and reconstruct Africa’s long history. Liberating African knowledges can be done by: “Provincialising Europe that has monopolised universality, universalising Africa beyond its Eurocentric provincialisation, and engaging histories of other continents on their own terms.”

University celebrates Africa Month in various ways  
Dr Zeleza delivered the ninth Africa Day Memorial Lecture, titled The Decolonisation of African Knowledges, at the University of the Free State (UFS). The lecture, hosted by the Centre for Africa Studies (CAS), took place on 24 May 2017 in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus and was one of the ways in which the UFS celebrated Africa Month.

Scholars should immerse themselves in these thoughts
Dr Zeleza focused on two issues, which he said were interconnected. They were the unfinished project of decolonising African knowledges and the continent's positioning in global knowledge production.

He said Africa’s scholars and students should “immerse themselves in the rich traditions of African social thought going back millennia”. According to him the continent’s research profile still remains weak in global terms.

“It is imperative that the various key stakeholders in African higher education from governments to the general public to parents, and to students, faculty, staff, and administrators in the academic institutions themselves, raise the value proposition of African higher education for 21st century African societies, economies, and polities.”

“Colonialism is associated with injustice
and inequality, but what happens when
our liberators become our oppressors?”

Library celebrates with panel discussion and book launch
The UFS Sasol Library celebrated Africa Day by presenting a book launch and panel discussion on 25 May 2017, on the pertinent and current political theme of land redistribution with a comparative basis of land invasions in Zimbabwe.

Prof Irikidzayi Manase discussed his book White Narratives: The Depiction of Post-2000 Land Invasions in Zimbabwe, accompanied by Rev Henry Jackson who wrote Another Farm in Africa. A perspective of the economic implications of land redistribution in South Africa was discussed by panellist Arno Van Niekerk: Senior Lecturer of Economics at the UFS Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Inequality still an African problem
The content of the books are a stark reminder of the burning issues of inequality and loss of identity of those who lost their farms in Zimbabwe, a collection of memoirs by white farmers and their families. Rev Jackson gave a religious perspective on reconciliation, forgiveness and the question of land ownership, saying that healing of injustice begins with forgiveness of past transgressions.

Van Niekerk highlighted that while land issues were important, “social cohesion is affected by the economic decisions that will be made”. In closing, Prof Manase called for serious consideration of what the future may hold. “Colonialism is associated with injustice and inequality, but what happens when our liberators become our oppressors?” 

The panel discussion was attended by staff and students of the university, and was lit up by robust discussions on possible historical and future solutions to the question of land, decolonisation and political power struggles in Southern Africa and lessons to be learned from Zimbabwe.

UFS celebrates Africa Month (24 May 2017)

 

 

 

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