Succeeding as a womxn in science

My experience as a PhD student involved a lot of new roles. I was a new student, in a new field, at a new department, with three small children who needed a range of new things from me every day.

There were other challenges, too. Not the least of which was the financial strain of quitting my job at the Institute for Maritime Technology in Cape Town to pursue studies full-time. With three children under the age of 6-years-old, that wasn’t an easy decision. But it served as motivation to push for completion of my studies within a three-year window.

That was also a challenge. I’d gained my MSc in physics in 2002 at Stellenbosch University, but couldn’t find a place for my research into atmospheric aerosols there. Because my work is at the interface of the atmosphere and the ocean, the Department of Oceanography at UCT seemed a logical home, and Dr Katye Altieri took me and the research on in 2017.

Here I was, a ‘new’ student in a ‘new’ department at a ‘new’ university with a ‘new’ (unknown) research field in South Africa. At the same time, my first-born was starting big school (Grade 1), adding the hecticness of drop-off and pick-up to an already busy study schedule.

Woman in STEM

“Increasing awareness about the scarcity of women and girls in STEM has helped me realise that I can be a role model for my kids.”

Fortunately, being a full-time student meant I had the flexibility to be ‘mom’s taxi’ while my husband transported the smaller ones to crèche. That meant looking at my studies as a ‘new job’, an outlook that helped me dedicate time to studying at home or on campus.

I was also driven by curiosity about my research. Aerosol data kept me going! Giving presentations on my research and progress helped to quickly draw me into my ‘new role’ as student. This also helped to keep my focus and learn how to better relate my research to others.

With probing questions and guidance, Dr Altieri was an instrumental part of this. She also guided me toward bursaries that could support my determination and alleviate the financial challenges I faced.

With the Ocean Womxn fellowship, I found all of that and more. Joining the programme in 2020, I was suddenly no longer ‘new’ and alone, but part of a group of other black womxn scientists in oceanography.

I became even more motivated by the high standard exemplified by the cohort members, and it pushed me further to excel. I also felt my confidence to become a role model and mentor to other womxn and girls boosted with the attention Ocean Womxn gained through social media and other exposure.

Increasing awareness about the scarcity of women and girls in STEM has helped me realise that I can be a role model for my kids as well. When recording my video for the Advancing Womxn initiative, which supports the Ocean Womxn programme, I saw my 5-year-old girl cheering me on. That was a special feeling.

On the day the video was aired, my whole family sat together in excitement to watch. It seemed to me the culmination of my career. Having overcome the challenges and all the ‘new’ situations – and to have my family as part of my journey as a scientist.