Varsity students pay it forward

Rondebosch-based Tsungai Jongwe (see above), a microbiology Masters student at the University of Cape Town medical school, was one of several young women scientists who gave motivational talks to high school students during National Science Week in May at the MTN Sciencentre in Canal Walk, part of a string of events happening across the country.

To remind the audience from Milnerton and Thandokulu high schools that scientists don't match the stereotypes put out by Cartoon Network, Jongwe pointed out that she competes on the UCT women's soccer team, loves movies and makes beaded jewellry for her friends. In addition, she's devoted to finding solutions to drug-resistant bacteria, like the mycobacteria that causes tuberculosis. She told the audience how - having failed one course - she put herself through the toughest class possible in order to graduate from her first degree in the minimum three years, with the help of a tutor who helped her for an hour every day and five hours on Saturday.



Talented biochemist Jennifer de Beyer, a Pinelands resident and a graduate of Herschel High School in Claremont, also participated. Jen, above is seen, speaking to students from Rhodes High School in Mowbray, including 15-year-old Lauren Lasker from Mandalay in Mitchell's Plain, and 16-year-old Gaironesa Cupido from Surrey Estate in Athlone, who both are interested in forensics.

Interesting questions for Jen included one young man who wanted to know if biochemists could cook up cocaine. She pointed out that first-year stuents get to make beer and bring two litres of it home, and the third floor of her building is devoted to wine - but no, not cocaine. Another student wanted to know if she was a ballet dancer - perhaps Cartoon Network ideas of scientists are stronger than we think!

National Science Week may be an annual event but the 2008 week may have been one of the last opportunities the public gets to interact with de Beyer, who leaves Stellenbosch University in September for Oxford University in the United Kingdom on a prestigious Commonwealth Bursary to get her doctorate in the new field of systems biology. Both de Beyer and Jongwe are 23 and did their honours degrees with funding from South African Women in Science and Engineering (SAWISE).