Grant opens doors for African women scientists
Published: 26 April 2019
Women make up, on average, just 24 per cent of agricultural scientists in Africa. The University of Edinburgh’s £46,000 grant to the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN) seeks to redress the imbalance.
Experts from the University shared insights with six women scientists from Nigeria, Zambia, Cameroon and Kenya.
The six scientists were then able to deliver a bespoke schools outreach programme. It highlighted the importance of vaccines in combating disease and demonstrated hands-on scientific techniques.
It is hoped this method of training scientists will deliver a new and sustainable form of knowledge sharing across many parts of Africa.
We hope to provide women scientists working in Africa with the training and resources to deliver outreach workshops in schools to inspire the next generation of young scientists. The programme will also create a peer-to-peer support network for women veterinary scientists.
Dr Carly Hamilton, Network Manager, IVVN African Schools Outreach Programme
The programme, led by the IVVN, involves Easter Bush Outreach Centre (EBSOC), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), University of Ibadan, University of Zambia, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and the African Vaccinology Network (AfVANET).
IVVN hopes to implement the programme across other African countries in 2019-2020.
Funding for the IVVN African Schools Outreach Programme was provided through the University of Edinburgh’s GCRF-Scottish Funding Council allocation for 2018-2019.
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