Rsif scholar wins prestigious UNESCO- L’Oreal For Women in Science Award 2024
The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa has been a beacon of recognition for outstanding female researchers for 15 years. Recently, Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund (Rsif) scholar Dr Ruth Lorivi Moirana was among the recipients of this prestigious award, which honours young women scientists for their groundbreaking work. The 2024 regional award ceremony, held in December in Cotonou, Benin, celebrated 30 talented women from 16 African countries, including 25 PhD students and 5 post-docs, who were selected from nearly 800 applicants for their innovative projects addressing the continent’s major challenges. This recognition not only highlights their scientific excellence but also underscores Rsif program’s commitment to empowering women in science across Africa. Dr Moirana was a cohort 2 Rsif scholar who completed her PhD thesis at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Tanzania. Rsif is the flagship programme of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET), managed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) as the Regional Coordination Unit.
Her research topic was on “remediation of soils contaminated with fluoride using seaweed-derived materials.”
Early January, we sat down with Dr Moirana for this interview.
Q: Congratulations Dr Moirana for this great achievement. How has your experience as an Rsif scholar shaped your academic journey and contributed to your success?
A: As an Rsif scholar, I have had the privilege of accessing numerous resources that have significantly shaped my academic journey. In addition to providing financial support for my PhD, Rsif organizes various training programmes aimed at enhancing our research, communication, and personal skills as future African leaders. These trainings and webinars have transformed the way I think and communicate with the world.
Importantly, Rsif scholars and alumni have access to the Junior Investigation Research Award (JIRA), which supports Rsif-sponsored PhD graduates in advancing their research careers after completing their degrees. It was through the JIRA that I was able to apply for and successfully obtain the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award. Therefore, the JIRA serves as a seed that helps us attract further funding, and I am grateful to the visionaries behind the JIRA.
Q: Who have been your mentors or role models throughout your academic journey?
A: The mentors in my academic journey have always been my supervisors: Prof Kelvin Mtei, Prof Revocatus Machunda, and Dr Marcos Paradelo. They have been a significant source of motivation and have served as role models throughout my studies, continually encouraging me to strive for more. Although he was not my supervisor, Prof Mwemezi Rwiza has also been an important mentor, offering incredible support and promotion for my work. I am grateful to all of them.
Q: What is the core focus of your research, and why is it important?
A: My research investigates how fertilizers interact with “outlier soils.” Outlier soils are those that do not fit into typical soil classifications due to abnormal physical, chemical, and biological factors. These unique characteristics alter the conventional interactions between fertilizers, soils, and crops, thereby affecting the effectiveness of the fertilizers. My research aims are to establish these interactions, investigate how they influence nutrient availability for the grown crops, and design an appropriate treatment plan.
Dr Ruth Lorivi Moirana prestigious UNESCO- L’Oreal For Women in Science Award 2024. PHOTO/COURTESYQ: How does your work address specific challenges facing your community or region?
A: Tanzania is located along the Great Rift Valley (GRV), which has both advantages and disadvantages. One significant drawback is the introduction of contaminants into the upper part of the Earth’s crust, specifically the soil “Chemically contributed outlierness”. One of these contaminants is fluoride, which impacts approximately six regions of the country.
Elevated fluoride levels in the soil affect how it interacts with fertilizer elements, leading to either over- or underutilization of fertilizers, which in turn impacts their effectiveness. My research aims to ensure that farmers using fluoride-contaminated soils maximize the benefits of their fertilizers while also improving their soils’ resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Q: Winning the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science award is a significant milestone. How do you feel this recognition will influence your future research and career?
A: Winning the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award is a significant milestone for me for three main reasons related to my aspirations.
First, this award has provided financial support for my research, which is instrumental in building my career.
Second, like the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif), it has given me a platform to showcase my work and gain attention from others. This visibility is essential for both my research and my personal growth.
Third, winning this award has validated my work, showing that it resonates with others and is easily understandable. The fact that there were 788 applications screened by 90 experts, with only 30 being selected as winners, highlights the importance of this recognition for me.
Q: What changes do you believe are necessary to improve gender equality in scientific fields?
A: I believe that we all have a role to play in bringing change to gender equality. This change starts with encouraging individuals who are passionate about pursuing science, building a supportive and open-minded society that respects individual choices and further, establishing a government that implements policies that promote gender equality in education, ensure equal representation in decision-making, and empower all individuals.
Q: As the first female Rsif scholar from NM-AIST to defend your thesis, what message do you hope to convey to other women pursuing careers in STEM?
A: Pursuing a career in STEM can be challenging for women due to various obstacles and barriers. However, I want to share these important messages with them:
- Acknowledge your obstacles and factor them into your planning.
- Create a detailed study plan that takes into account all potential challenges.
- Commit to hard work and perseverance.
- Cultivate a genuine passion for what you are doing.
By following these steps, you can navigate the challenges and thrive in your STEM journey.
Q: What are your aspirations moving forward and how does it align with Rsif goals?
A: I want to help empower Africa by contributing to clean and sustainable food systems. My goal is to ensure that farmers using contaminated soils have an equal opportunity to compete in the global food market in terms of quality.
To achieve this, I also aim to mentor my peers and the younger generation through teaching and supervision. This aligns with what Rsif implements through its mentorship and capacity-building programme, which pairs its alumni network with incoming new Rsif scholars with the solemn goal of fostering academic and research excellence
Q: How do you envision your research contributing to sustainable development in Africa?
A: Africa is a continent rich in natural resources and productive land. If we focus our efforts on agriculture, we have the potential to excel in global markets with our agricultural products. However, a significant number of farmers in Africa are smallholders who face various challenges that hinder their ability to produce high-quality goods for international competition. My research aims to support these smallholder farmers by addressing one of their key obstacles: the production of contamination-free agricultural goods.
Q: What message would you like to convey to potential donors about the importance of funding initiatives like Rsif?
A: I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the donors who chose to support initiatives like Rsif. Rsif is structured to make its opportunities accessible to deserving young people across Africa and motivated by the goal of driving change. Thus, the donors should know that they are investing in the future of a transformed Africa through the emergence of a new generation of transformative leaders.
Unlike many other initiatives, I appreciate that Rsif offers ongoing support to its scholars. I hope that Rsif will continue to support us—not just financially, which is important, but also by promoting our research to increase our visibility among those who share our language. Additionally, I would like to see more opportunities for networking and the enhancement of our skills through training whenever possible.