Making Science Visible and Inspiring the Next Generation

For Ms Lexia Naidoo, science education is about more than sharing knowledge.

It is about helping young people discover possibilities they may not have known existed.

As the Science and Technology Education Centre Officer in the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Naidoo works at the intersection of science, education and community engagement.

Her work includes developing and co-ordinating science education and outreach programmes, teacher development, learner support, exhibitions and special projects. She also works with schools, the Department of Education and other partners to make science more accessible and engaging.

“At the heart of it, I think my role is about connecting people to science and connecting the University to the communities around us,” she said.

For Naidoo, one of the most important parts of this work is making science visible to young people and showing them the many career possibilities within science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “When we ask small children what they want to be when they grow up, they usually mention careers they know – a doctor, firefighter, nurse or teacher. But would you ever dream of becoming an astronaut if you did not know that astronauts existed?”

This belief shapes her work with learners and teachers. While pupils are exposed to careers and opportunities they may not have previously considered, teachers receive development and resources to support science education in the classroom. “Ultimately, I want science and Higher Education to feel not only exciting, but possible and accessible,” she said.

Reflecting on her career at UKZN, she is particularly proud of progressing from working directly on individual education and outreach initiatives to helping shape and co-ordinate programmes at a broader level. She credits this growth to being willing to learn, adaptability and collaboration. “Very little of what we achieve is done by one person. Successful programmes depend on colleagues, academics, teachers, students, schools and external partners all contributing something.”

Her career has also taken her beyond her initial interests in physics and education, providing opportunities to develop skills in programme development, stakeholder engagement, science communication, digital education and leadership.

As a woman in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), Naidoo encourages young women and girls to embrace opportunities, even when they do not feel completely prepared. She believes studying science can open doors to careers in research, education, technology, communication, innovation and management, among others.

For Naidoo, Women’s Month is both a celebration and a responsibility. “We celebrate the women who came before us, many of whom created opportunities and challenged barriers that made our own journeys possible.”

She believes women must also ensure that the progress made is carried forward. “Progress cannot only be about getting ourselves through the door. We also have a responsibility to make sure that those doors remain open for the women who come after us.”

As science and technology continue to evolve, Naidoo hopes the Science and Technology Education Centre will remain a space where learners, teachers and communities can experience science, ask questions and see themselves as part of its future.

Her message this Women’s Month is therefore one of possibility: sometimes, opening a door begins simply by showing someone that it exists.

*Visit our YouTube channel to watch our Women’s Month stories of inspiration and excellence.

Words: Lungile Ngubelanga

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini

*Dressed by Qhawekazi Collection.