Durban - Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor and her USA counterpart Antony Blinken have lauded women in science for their role as the country commemorates Women’s Month.
Blinken had visited South Africa, where he engaged government officials, businesses and members of civil society on shared objectives of combating climate change, food insecurity and global pandemics.
He also deliberated on key issues to promote the US’s support and investment in developing and securing more resilient supply chains, particularly with respect to critical minerals.
The engagements were held at the University of Pretoria in Gauteng on Women’s Day.
Blinken then met with women who are pioneers in the fields of medicine, health, and science, and he said their innovations and contributions were saving lives in South Africa and around the world.
“We are celebrating Women’s Day in South Africa. It’s particularly fitting to be here to do that and to see the critical role that women play in events and science and technology.
“We see literally life-changing results not just for South Africa but for the continent and for the world. These are things that will benefit Americans too. I’m particularly pleased to be here with my friend and colleague, the foreign minister, who, in a previous experience, had the science and technology portfolio. So she actually understands everything,” said Blinken.
Pandor thanked all the women researchers, pointing out Professor Glenda Gray, who is the first female President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
“Thank you for all the work that you do, and I’m so grateful that you’re training young women scientists who will follow in your excellent tracks.”
She added she was told by her colleagues (males) in the science field and in the leadership of higher education that with such a move, she could embarrass herself because there weren’t women who met the criteria.
She said women scientists teach society to be bold.
“We need to be active and practical in terms of ensuring that women enjoy equal opportunity. So it’s very important that we follow through, and I have always been really, really proud of women scientists in our country and the work that they’re doing and especially optimistic about young women scientists,” concluded Pandor.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE