Women's Day

The organisation South African Women in Science and Engineering (SA-WISE) hosted a women's day function on Friday morning for a predominantly female audience of high school students in our auditorium.

Speakers (seen above) at the SciCafé included GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapper Takadzani Rambuda, conservationist Katy Lannas, chemical engineer Melinda Griffiths, immunologist Boipelo Sebesho, bat researcher Lizelle Odendaal - all from the University of Cape Town - and the sole representative from the University of Stellenbosch, systems biologist Jennifer de Beyer.

They're all post-graduate students who gave brief powerpoint presentations with lots of pictures. Audible gasps were heard from Melinda Griffiths when she pointed out that she got to live and travel in the United Kingdom.

More audible gasps were heard when Jennifer de Beyer - who also spoke at the science centre during National Science Week - said that next month she leaves for Cambridge University after winning a fellowship which will make her Dr de Beyer.

Boipelo Sebesho probably got the lion's share of questions, probably because she mentioned extremely drug resistant tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, two issues of huge importance for South Africans - although her research area has narrowed down to focus on nasty brain infections caused by TB-linked meningitis.

Boipelo - who has to be cool, because she's on Facebook - said something really interesting in the question-and-answer session. ''Do we look hungry?'' she challenged the audience. Boipelo was pointing out tht even though many of the speakers are still studying, they're not suffering for science. They get paid to learn.

UCT zooogist Lizelle Odendaal - who's batty about bats - also got lots of questions. And smiles, when she said that she studies bats for all the official reasons (including them being the only flying mammals) but also because they're cute.

Melinda Griffiths' photos of mountain climbing helped to show that women in science are diverse and well-rounded, and that you don't have to be a slave to science and never get out to have fun.

Katy Lannas' photos of some of the beautiful places she works in were also quite impressive, and help to explain that science can get you out of the office and into intriguing situations.

The nice people from Popular Mechanics gave lekker calculators away to the students who could remember who did what at the end of the session, while Murray Steyn from the University of Cape Town provided branded pens, posters, magazines and computer mouse pads.

And well done to Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, author of ''Famous Dinosaurs of Africa'' for putting the whole event together and hosting it.