A transformative approach to bridging the gap in science and research: A keynote presentation delivered by professor Yaye Kene Gassama, at the Global Forum on Women in Scientific Research (GoFoWiSeR), Dakar, Senegal 2019

1. Keynote speech
Prof. Gassama Yaye kene
Chair
African Union High level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET)
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Global Forum for Women in
Scientific Research
July 18-19 2019 Dakar Senegal

2. • Remobilize women in science
• Increase the critical mass of women in science,
• Maximize the human potential
• Striving for a more gender- equal society
• Develop an endogenous scientific capacity,
• Need to develop our own reading of the challenges of emerging
technologies 2

3. • Technology is in a historic time for Africa as in the 4th industrial
revolution
• Women should not be left behind nor excluded
• Opportunity to remobilize and advocate against this under-
representation of women - less than 25% in science and technology*
• in Africa, the gender gap is even wider, anchored in beliefs, norms and
practices which leads to women marginalization and feminize poverty
• “When women do better, economies do better” C. Lagarde CeO IMF.3

4. • “Knowledge is power”. The real power is in knowledge
• Strengthening national educational systems,
• Investing in science education for girls, in technological
entrepreneurship, in a science communication that
encourage girls to enroll in scientific and engineering
carriers,
• These are a common recommendation for increasing
the critical mass and reduce gender gap. 4

5. • Education in science an inquiry based approach that
encourages questioning, documentation,
experimentation and discussion,
• Girls are not only excellent but remain very motivated
• Provide demonstration platforms on new
technologies, inspiring creative solutions
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6. 6
• African women are naturally entrepreneurs, and more women
than men choose to become entrepreneurs in Africa
• Technical and vocational training dedicated to such small
female entrepreneurs
• Facilitate and value innovation
• Transfer of knowledge and know-how
• through incubation and creation of starts-up

7. 7
Emerging
Technologies

8. 8
Africa is transforming this challenge in success stories,
as we see many incubation spaces, many startups
emerging in Kenya, South Africa, in Ghana, in Senegal,
in Rwanda, etc.

9. One bee can do more than a thousand flies.
Stay committed !
• Despite our limited number as women in science , I want to
engage all of you to make our voice heard
• Stay committed for progress
• Any technology have its own pros and cons
• Continue to advocate for scientific evidence,
• For the right to conduct freely research in science as long as
ethics is respected 9

10. Gene drive the most
effective for reducing
insect vector of malaria.
Huge transformative
power for agriculture
More productive and
resilient varieties
Large scale
Short duration
High impact
Less 10% release
Total control

11. • Privacy, security and safety, data ownership and use
• Need to frame and guide technological innovation
– control, access, and use of gene databases,
– management of internet big data,
– understanding how these products are influencing the global
market
A requirement of transparency, prerequisite to social consensus
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12. 12
• Communicate on scientific advances in a well balanced way,
• Providing in real time, useful and scientifically validated information
for decision making and implementation of public policies
• Propose to policy makers, on a voluntary basis, a framework for
greater understanding and dialogue,
• To anticipate public responses to socio-economic and geopolitical
issues to Identify and manage potential risks.
• It is only by these means our voices could be heard and have an
impact.
MAKE OUR WOMEN VOICES HEARD

13. • African culture a dynamic factor of innovation, in the
values it conveys, in the potentialities it carries
• Build consistent economic models, more inclusive,
resilient and more sustainable.
• Remain rooted in our values and open to the world,
• We’ll change the way we look at ourselves but also
convert the way others look at us.
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14. A bright future is to be built for Africa
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