Her voice: Closing the gender gap in Science

What inspired you to pursue a career in science?

I would say it was curiosity. At home, I used to play with radios and watches. I wanted to see what was in them, what made them work, and the science behind them. It was curiosity and interest.

Did you find gender-related hindrances in the field?

Of course. It is challenging but rewarding. For me, being good in STEM came later in my career when I thought of enrolling for a Master’s degree. I could hear people saying that women are not good at Math or science, and I wondered why. To me, both genders are capable of succeeding in science. The ground is level.

Tell us more about your area of expertise and the contributions you have made in your field.

In Mathematics, I specialise in Bioeconomics. You look at economics with biological systems using Mathematics. Specifically, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I was the lead model on the Scientific Advisory Committee. I did the modeling for the Ugandan model that influenced how decisions were made to overcome the pandemic. Many people think Mathematics is one plus one equals two, but it is not. You remember Covid-19 was so complex and the information was limited. It was not ethical to test someone on how a certain procedure would work. However, you can sit down with the Mathematics and project different scenarios without harming anyone. When it came to the rollout of the vaccination, we had to estimate the proportion that would guarantee Ugandans have a level of herd immunity. So, we contribute a lot using Mathematics in biological and physical systems, and in natural sciences. Few people know I am a mathematician since most of my teaching is done at the School of Public Health. They think I am a biologist.

What are some of the major challenges you have faced as a woman in science?

There are the stereotypes, the tags, and assumptions that, mostly, men make. They think if you are a woman you cannot do this, you cannot combine family with science because science is challenging and evolves every day. But I overcome it by collaborating, being resilient, and focusing on my goal. 

Are you a family person?

Yes, I am. Mine is a tight-knit family, and I prioritise them. I am also very religious and I do a lot of work in my church. I know when to concentrate on work, family, and my church. You have to set clear boundaries on when to concentrate on each role. Are you the type who would not do anything work-related when you are at home? I have an office at home and on weekends, I can work from 8 am and 10 am. At that time, the children are still asleep. When they wake up, we cook lunch together, since I do not have a maid to cook and clean for me. I do all my housework myself.

Do your children feel under pressure to emulate your career achievements?

I encourage them to follow their dreams. They do not have to be scientists or mathematicians. One time, my youngest child, Catherine, told me she wanted to be a musician. But that is slowly changing.After she saw St. Catherine Hospital, she said she wanted to become a doctor. We talk about what she has to do to become a doctor. They brag about my work, but it does not influence what they want to become. When I
have Mathematics activities in different schools, I take them with me. For instance, last year, I took them to the Maths Camp at Kings College Budo and they enjoyed it. I encourage them to pass Mathematics even though they decide to specialise in other sectors because Maths helps us in many ways. You cannot succeed in the business sector if your Mathematics is not good enough to inform you when to
switch from one investment to another. Recently, there were questions about marrying intelligent women. 

Do you stir fear among some circles?

You know, when people attach a title to someone, then there is fear. But when you get to know that person, you realise they are just the same human being as you are. The exception comes when I am teaching Maths. But, for instance, I cannot excel in a geography class. We are all talented in different ways. Not all of us excel in school but parents often have a hard time trying to calm down their children because they did not score Aggregate Four in the Primary Leaving Examinations.

Incidentally, a parent called me to say their child had scored 15 aggregates. The parent was crying. But I told her that not all of us got Aggregate Four, but we have excelled. So, when a child gets 15,it does not mean they failed academically. Maybe there was a situation in the exam that caused them to get those results. I have tried to encourage parents that they do not have to take their children to ‘successful’ schools. My academic journey began in Mubende District. I only came to Kampala City when I joined Trinity College Nabbingo for A-Level. So scoring 15 aggregates does not define what a child will become.

How has your work contributed to addressing the challenges Uganda faces?

I try to mentor girls to study the application of Mathematics because it is a medium through which we apply all sciences. We try to show Mathematics in day-to-day life. Even when working in my garden at home, I try to show my children the mathematical patterns. We have a network of women in mathematics and basic sciences, both locally and regionally. This has helped to demystify the aura around the subject, especially for girls.

What is your highest achievement?

That would be working with the Ministry of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic and the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination because Uganda was number three in the countries that managed the pandemic. The ministry put up a team that covered all aspects of the spread. They would tell us what they planned to do and we would quantify it in terms of the lives going to be saved, the expected cases, and the cost. We have also gone around the country to promote Mathematics in schools. For instance, we can go to Kalangala District and spend a week there visiting all the schools. One of the reasons girls give for not taking Maths is that their male counterparts discourage them. So, the boys in those schools need to know that they can support the girls. We also talk to the parents and teachers because they are part of the pyramid of success. We advise them on how to ensure equal access and success in the learning environment. Our efforts are paying off.

Who are your role models?

Prof Livingstone Sserwadda Luboobi is the person who interested me in Mathematics. Once in a while, I call him when I have a challenge. He is always willing to assist me. I also have other mentors both locally and internationally, people who can guide me in both academics and social aspects of life. I also mentor others; I prefer a determined student who walks into my office directly rather than going through one of my colleagues. If you are seeking a mentor, you should not fear being pushed aside because it happens often. You can be happy to meet your role model and then you are brushed aside. That should not deter you from trying harder. Maybe your role model is busy with something else at the time. You need to be resilient.

What are the biggest opportunities and barriers for women in science today?

The biggest opportunities are collaborations, both locally and globally, with other bodies in STEM. Once you have those collaborations, you can go further than you expected. The challenge is that some of our policies do not favour women. I gave birth in Sweden while pursuing my fourth post doctorate degree. That country has facilities for nursing mothers who are going to school. It would be nice if working women here had such policies, where you could watch over your baby as you work.

You said that that was your fourth post-doctorate degree. How many do you have?

Four. The fully funded opportunities were there. You know, when you collaborate internationally, people just keep calling you. So, I did four post doctorate degrees in a period of two and a half years. I traveled with my two-week-old baby, and sometimes, my husband would come with us. If I had not gotten the opportunities, I would have pursued just one post doctorate. When you get opportunities, you take them. These post doctorate degrees have led me to several collaborations in four different countries. So, having a baby is not an excuse. I have collaborations in Sweden, and currently, I am working on a project with people in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Sometimes, I teach in Rwanda. I am also working on a project with Africa CDC. The list is endless.

When do you take leave?

We have not been taking leave. We have long breaks between March and August when we are not lecturing. That is when I rest. Three months at home is a lot of time to do many things. I have never taken leave. Maybe the maternity leave counts, but then, I was already on study leave pursuing a post-doctorate. I only rest during the semester breaks.

What do you think about the performance of Mathematics in our schools?

We have not had a year in which Mathematics is the best subject in the Primary Leaving Examinations or the Uganda Certificate of Education Examinations. I read somewhere that now, every teacher must have a degree. The best students have always gone to universities. The people who go to teacher training colleges are those who do not meet the university’s pass mark. Maybe they got Ds and Es in Mathematics, and they are the ones teaching learners in primary and secondary schools - people with diplomas. If you look at the results from those teacher training colleges, you will realise that they have been failing in Maths. So, if they demand that everyone have a degree, we are going to have the best people teaching in the lower classes.

How do you envision the future for women in STEM?

I think more women will take on careers in STEM, especially with our government focusing on and giving opportunities to women. Currently, in the first year, you can have a class with 40 girls but in the second year, they minor in Mathematics because they have all gone to other fields. You can have only four majors in Math or Physics. If we continue with this government’s policies and outreach for STEM, we will see many women take on careers in STEM. This will lead to gender-friendly policies that factor in women’s nurturing role and social responsibilities. 

What does the International Day of Women and Girls in Science mean to you?

It means that women in science are recognised and given a platform. They are mentors or role models to other young girls who would like to pursue careers in STEM. Some children have been brought up to believe that if their parents did not perform well in Mathematics, then it runs in the family. But when they see that we have excelled they know that they too can. So, I think it is a good initiative that women in science are recognised.