The women building new paths into science

Close your eyes and picture a scientist. Did you imagine a man with messy white hair and a lab coat? You are not alone. When researchers ask children around the world to "draw a scientist," most draw a man. It is one of the most famous experiments in science education.

Now imagine this instead: a Nigerian physicist studying the sky above the equator. A Cameroonian professor fighting malaria. A South African chemist inventing new ways to treat cancer. A Beninese girl building a robot for an international competition.

These women exist. Many of them won big prizes. Yet most children have never heard their names.

Why are there still so few women in science in Africa — and who is building new paths so the next generation can walk them more easily?

The numbers: one in three

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, women make up only about one in three researchers worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the share is similar — roughly 30–35%, with big differences between countries. Some countries have many more women researchers than others, which proves one thing: the gap is not natural. It is built by habits, and habits can change.

About 1 in 3 researchers in the world is a woman. (UNESCO Institute for Statistics / UNESCO Science Report 2021) In engineering and computer science, the share is often much lower.

The "leaky pipeline" is the name scientists use to describe what happens. Many girls do well in science at primary school. Fewer choose science in secondary school. Even fewer study it at university. And fewer still become professors, lab directors or company founders. At each step, a few drop out — like water leaking from a pipe.

Joke break: A physics teacher asked her class, "What is the fastest way to lose half your class?" A student answered, "Say the word 'fractions.'" The teacher said, "Close. The real answer is telling girls science isn't for them." Nobody laughed — but everybody remembered.

Meet the women who opened the doors

These are real women whose work is well documented. Their stories show that African science is already strong — and female.

Professor Francisca Nneka Okeke (Nigeria) A physicist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, she studies the ionosphere — the layer of the atmosphere that affects radio signals and GPS. In 2013, she received the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award, becoming one of the most celebrated African women physicists.

Professor Rose Leke (Cameroon) An immunologist and parasitologist, she has spent decades researching malaria, especially in pregnant women. She was a leader in polio eradication efforts in Africa and has mentored many young scientists in Cameroon and beyond.

Professor Tebello Nyokong (South Africa) A chemist at Rhodes University, she works on photodynamic therapy — using light-activated molecules to fight cancer. She won the L'Oréal-UNESCO award in 2009. She grew up in Lesotho and has said she herded sheep as a child. From the hills of Lesotho to world-class chemistry: that is a path worth talking about.

Wangari Maathai (Kenya) The first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate, she trained as a biologist and founded the Green Belt Movement, which planted tens of millions of trees. In 2004, she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

"It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees." — Wangari Maathai

Why girls leave science

Research from UNESCO and many universities points to the same reasons:

• Stereotypes. When people say "boys are better at maths," girls start to believe it. Studies show this can lower their test confidence even when their skills are equal.
• Few role models. If you never see a woman engineer, it is harder to imagine becoming one.
• Classroom culture. Teachers may call on boys more often, especially in technical subjects.
• Household work. Girls often do more chores, leaving less time for homework and clubs.
• Early marriage and pregnancy, which push some girls out of school.
• Workplace barriers later: long hours, lack of childcare, and fewer promotions.

The good news: each of these can be changed. For teachers, our guide What girls need to feel welcome in a tech class gives classroom-ready ideas.

New paths: programmes that work

Many organisations across Africa are building new routes into science:

• African Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE) and similar networks connect women researchers across countries.
• The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa programme gives awards each year to young African women researchers.
• Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) offers PhD fellowships for women in science from lower-income countries.
• Coding and robotics programmes for girls, such as Girls in ICT Day activities supported by the ITU, and groups like FemCoders in Benin, which supports girls in tech and robotics.

In 2026, Benin's team at the FIRST Global Challenge showed what young people — including many girls — can do with robotics. Read about it in Team Benin au FIRST Global Challenge 2026.

These programmes all use the same ingredients: money for study, mentors, visibility and community. None of them is magic. All of them work better together.

What a new path looks like, step by step

Let's follow an illustrative student called Aïcha (illustrative), a 13-year-old in Porto-Novo who loves maths.

Age 13: A teacher invites her to a science club. She builds a paper microscope and sees an onion cell. She is hooked. (Try it: How to make a science club work without a laboratory.) Age 15: She meets a woman engineer during a school career day. For the first time, she hears a woman explain her job. Age 17: Her parents are unsure about university science. A mentor visits the family and explains scholarships and job options. Age 20: She studies computer science and joins a network of women in tech. Age 25: She works on a project analysing rainfall data for farmers — and visits her old school to speak to girls.

Every step includes a person who opened a door. That is the real secret: paths are built by people. For more on this, see Why local mentors can change a young person's future.

What families can do

Parents and older siblings have huge influence. Simple actions help:

• Share chores fairly between boys and girls so everyone has homework time.
• Praise effort, not "being naturally smart." Research by psychologist Carol Dweck on "growth mindset" suggests children who believe abilities grow with effort keep trying longer.
• Buy or borrow science books, puzzles and building kits for girls, not just for boys.
• Watch documentaries together and talk about the women in them.
• Say out loud: "You could be a scientist." It sounds small. It is not.

What schools and employers can do

Schools:

• Invite women scientists, engineers and doctors to speak.
• Mix boys and girls in lab groups and rotate roles so girls also handle the tools.
• Use real-world projects. See How teachers bring real problems into lessons.

Employers and universities:

• Offer flexible hours and childcare support.
• Make promotion rules clear and fair.
• Fund women-led research teams.

"Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated." — Rosalind Franklin, British scientist whose X-ray images helped reveal the structure of DNA

Why it matters for everyone

This is not just about fairness. It is about better science. When research teams are more diverse, they ask more kinds of questions. Many medicines were first tested mostly on men; scientists later found some worked differently in women. More women in science means better answers for everyone.

In Africa, where challenges like malaria, climate change, clean water and food security need smart solutions, we cannot afford to use only half of our brainpower. That's like playing football with half the team sitting on the bench.

Myths about girls and science — busted

Myth 1: "Boys are naturally better at maths." Reality: Large international studies such as PISA and TIMSS show the gap between boys and girls in maths is small, changes from country to country, and in some countries girls score higher. If the gap were "natural," it would look the same everywhere. It doesn't.

Myth 2: "Science careers are not for women who want a family." Reality: Millions of women scientists have families. What helps is fair workplaces — flexible hours, childcare and shared housework at home.

Myth 3: "There are no African women scientists to look up to." Reality: You just met four of them. There are thousands more, from lab technicians and nurses to engineers and data scientists. They are simply less visible in textbooks and on TV.

Myth 4: "Science is only for geniuses." Reality: Science is mostly curiosity, patience and teamwork. Most scientists will tell you they failed many experiments before one worked.

A small challenge for readers

This week, find one African woman scientist and share her story — with a class, a WhatsApp group or your family. Visibility is cheap, and it works. When enough people know the names, girls stop thinking science is for "other people."

The next name on the list

Francisca Okeke. Rose Leke. Tebello Nyokong. Wangari Maathai. The next name could belong to a girl reading this article right now — or to your daughter, your sister, your student.

Keep exploring: read How young Africans learn from older makers, Why African children should learn to build robots, technology and code, or visit our People section.

Questions

What percentage of scientists in Africa are women?

Around one in three researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa is a woman, similar to the world average, according to UNESCO data. The number varies a lot between countries and fields.

Who are famous African women scientists?

Examples include Francisca Nneka Okeke (physics, Nigeria), Rose Leke (malaria research, Cameroon), Tebello Nyokong (chemistry, South Africa) and Wangari Maathai (biology and environment, Kenya).

How can I encourage my daughter to like science?

Give her hands-on projects, introduce her to women scientists, share chores fairly so she has study time, and praise her effort.