A documentary by *Kate Thompson-Gorry (see below), made in collaboration with Canal+ International and the L’Oréal Foundation, highlights the importance of female scientists on the African continent.
The film, A Silent Revolution, shows how young African women are finding their feet in science in a continent where many careers are still gender-related and the roles of womenare still ruled by age-old patriarchal familial structures. It addresses the commitment and challenges of female African scientists and is lauded as a powerful source of inspiration for today’s young women.
Documentary profiles various brilliant female scientists
Focussing on women in physics, mathematics, astrophysics, chemistry, immunology, engineering and technology, the documentary shows how essential the contributions and development of female scientists are for the African continent and the world.
Changing paradigms and defying the odds against them, A Silent Revolution shows that African women are not only conducting breakthrough research on the continent, but attracting global scientists.
African scientists featured in the Documentary
It features the late Wangari Maathai, a biologist and Nobel Prize Laureate, who was featured in MediaTorque’s Women in Science and Tebello Nyokong, a Nano-chemist in South Africa who develops water purifying filters to make river water drinkable, while directing many young African women researchers as part of an international team.
The work of Francine Ntoumi, an immunologist standing at the forefront of the fight against infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 through direct interventions and cutting-edge research, also features in the documentary
Thompson-Gorry shows why Africa is considered ideal context for research in many sectors and in the documentary, portrays the research of astrophysicist, Zara Randriamanakoto, doing extraordinary work in the study of the cosmos, using the Arivonimamo radio telescope in Madagascar, which is part of the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) network of radio telescopes.
This brilliant female African scientist is also shown in the documentary espousing her belief the future of science in Africa lies in future generations, especially females. She is personally active in promoting scientific education among young African girls, appreciating the fact that nourishing the imagination of young people is a fundamental step towards development. Through the Ikala STEM Association, Randriamanakoto ignites the enthusiasm of many Malagasy girls for science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
With their energetic personalities and determination, the achievements of women in African science are a powerful source of inspiration and promote a change of mentalities in Africa and in the whole world.
*Kate Thompson-Gorry is an award-winning documentary filmmaker known for treating delicate human stories from around the world. The documentary can be watched on Vimeo.
