Going boldly where no SA woman scientist has been

CELEBRATED nuclear physicist Senamile Masango is a trailblazer in her field and determined to pave the way for other women.

The 35-year-old who has amassed accolades in her career is a big champion of her field, which she believes holds the answers to most of the world’s problems.

Masango said that whenever people hear the term nuclear, they immediately think of bombs.

“(But) nuclear physics can save lives and treat cancer through nuclear medicine.

“The answers to the universe can be found in nuclear,” she said.

The businesswoman was recently invited to attend a Women in Science event, hosted by the US embassy, where she spoke about the nuclear physics research she conducted at the University of the Western Cape.

In July, she was awarded a Positive Role Model award at the 10th Gender Mainstreaming Awards.

“I appreciated my hard work receiving recognition. It made me very happy considering how I am transitioning from being a nuclear physicist to working in energy leadership,” she said.

In 2018, she opened the Senamile Masango Foundation, which aims to make science, education and leadership inclusive for all.

“I want to highlight the importance of investing in research and development. Graduates in South Africa need support,” she said.

“Most graduates end at degree level to earn an income, but then research suffers. I want to provide graduates a practical workspace so they can gain hands-on experience for the theory they are taught,” she added.

“I’ve had to fight for my belonging in this space. I always tell women that when you are being excluded, you must include yourself.”

The 2022 Global Gender Gap report, compiled by the World Economic Forum, showed the gender gap is most prevalent in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and information and communication technologies (ICT).

For South Africa, the report shows women represent 43% of graduates in the STEM sector, while men account for 57%.

Masango said her foundation was aimed at providing clean energy solutions.

“I believe in an integrated energy solution. We are trying to provide solutions for how to adjust and adapt to climate change, and how to mitigate it in energy,” she said.

“Load shedding means we have to be smart about how we integrate energy solutions. Energy sources need to be diversified sustainably.”

Masango lives in Cape Town, but hails from KwaNongoma in KwaZulu-Natal.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in physics and electronics, and completed an Honours in nuclear physics at the University of Zululand.

She later completed a Master’s degree in nuclear physics, and is a PhD candidate in this field at the University of Western Cape.

She is also the youngest board member to be appointed at Moses Kotane Institute, a KZN initiative formed to drive economic development through research, and she holds several leadership titles with various companies.

Nompilo Cele, an occupational health specialist for PetroSA, praised Masango’s determination to empower women.

Cele highlighted Masango’s involvement in African-led experimentation for CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.

“This is an exceptional honour as she is the first African woman to be part of this experiment,” she said.

“Her passion for science and engineering includes her desire to continually empower women in Africa,” she added.

Cele said she admires many things about Masango.

“I admire her work ethic and her vision, which is bigger than herself. She has an innate passion to uplift other women,” she said.