A keynote speech by Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, PhD; Chancellor of Ibanda University and Chairperson of Makerere University Business School Council and Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board At the 3rd National Agricultural Biosciences Conference (NABIO2018) Conference, 26th and 27th March 2018, on 27th March 2018 at 2.00pm at Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Kampala, Uganda. Theme: “Harnessing Biosciences for Food Security and Development”

1. Africa and the Bioscience Revolution: Where
are the Youth and Women
A keynote speech by Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, PhD;
Chancellor of Ibanda University and Chairperson of Makerere University
Business School Council and Uganda Business and Technical
Examinations Board
At the 3rd National Agricultural Biosciences Conference (NABIO2018)
Conference, 26th and 27th March 2018, on 27th March 2018 at 2.00pm
at Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Kampala, Uganda.
Theme: “Harnessing Biosciences for Food Security and Development”

2. What is Bioscience
• Bioscience is the collective term for life sciences. It is at the core of
research and innovation that is curing disease, providing safe and
ample food and water, and developing new sources of fuel.
• The biosciences are a diverse and often converging group of
industries and activities with a common link – they apply knowledge
to develop biological solutions that sustain, restore, and improve the
quality of life for humans, plants, and animals in our world.
• From life-saving therapies and procedures, to healthier foods or
cutting-edge research, you have undoubtedly enjoyed a better quality
of life because of bioscience.

3. Jobs for biosciences graduates
• Biosciences have a broad scientific content which can lead to a
multitude of careers, from laboratory-based work and beyond.
• Biosciences graduates can find themselves in roles in academic
research, the pharmaceutical and diagnostic medicine industry, the
healthcare sector, the food and environmental health sector, and local
and central government.
• Specifically, the bioscience industry comprises five major segments,
including agriculture; drugs and pharmaceuticals; medical devices and
instruments; hospitals and laboratories; and research and testing

4. Statistics
• In Uganda 50.3% of population in both 1960 and 2016 was female –
World Bank
• The number of men and women in the world is roughly equal, though
men hold a slight lead with 102 men for 100 women (in 2015).
• Out of 1,000 people, 504 are men (50.4%) and 496 are women
(49.6%).
• For every 100 girls, 107 boys are born, but males have a higher risk of
dying than females, both in childhood and at adult ages.
• The Child Policy in countries like China  Parents prefer boys

5. Statistics Cont’d
• In Africa, the number of youth is growing rapidly, UN May 2015:
• There were 1.2 billion youth aged 15-24 years globally in 2015, accounting for
one out of every six people worldwide i.e. 16.7% of the world population.
• In 2015, 226 million youth aged 15-24 lived in Africa, accounting for 19 per
cent of the global youth population.
• By 2030, it is projected that the number of youth in Africa will have increased
by 42 per cent.
• Africa’s youth population is expected to continue to grow throughout the
remainder of the 21st century, more than doubling from current levels by
2055.

6. STEM Education in 21st Century: Critical Issues
• Attracting more students toward STEM fields
• Reform curricula and the delivery platforms of education to motivate
the new generation of learners
• Drive STEM education toward more inclusive platforms that integrate:
(1) inter- disciplinarity; (2) global mindset; (3) environmental
awareness; (4) Primary and secondary outreach; and (4) the active
use of technology in education and professional development of
educators to breach the generational gap between younger students
and an older generation of educators, or the breach between digital
natives and digital immigrants.
• Tap into MOOCs (massive, online, open courses)

7. Uganda as a case study: Youth in bioscience
• What is the status of science in our schools?
• Do we have facilities to support the teaching of bioscience?
• How do we support the girl child to remain in school?
• Do we have raw models for the girl child in science? How many
science teachers are women?
• How do we promote the teaching of bioscience in our schools?
• What programs are in place to encourage the youth to pursue a
bioscience career?

8. Critical Issues to Ponder
• Weak Legal Framework (laws and policies) on youth and gender inclusion
• Representation and appointment in key positions
• What does the Ugandan constitution provide for?
• What do the policies provide for in our institutions especially academic and research
institutions and industry?
• Where are laws/ polices that emphasize women inclusion?
• Where are laws/ polices that emphasize youth inclusion?
• Just leaders of tomorrow? When the population statistics show that majority of the
population are youth.
• Efforts towards Funding critical sectors:
• AU Declaration of 1% GDP for S&T, 10% GDP for Agriculture, 15% of Public
Expenditure to Health etc.
• What is the status of Uganda in regard to implementation of these declarations?

9. Checking the pulse of women and youth in
bioscience
• Younger generations have too few career opportunities and high
expectations for their organizations and supervisors.
• Women are graduating at higher rates with advanced degrees, but
gender biases and systemic barriers continue to challenge their career
advancement
• Women make most health-care goods and services purchasing
decisions in their homes but not in the bioscience companies that
respond to consumer demands and needs

10. What we need to focus on in order to
promote women and youth in bioscience
• career paths and mentoring
• networking
• communication strategies
• success stories
• Legal (Law and policy) reforms
• Increased funding to STI sector
• Lobbing by women and youth groups
• Political will

11. • Thank You.