UKZN Postgraduate Student Shines at Women in STEM Forum at Cambridge University

From 14-17 September 2025, Ms Charmaine Kahiya, a University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, attended the prestigious Women in STEM forum at Cambridge University.

Together with two other UKZN colleagues, Kahiya participated in an inspiring gathering that celebrated the achievements while exploring the challenges faced by African women researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The forum also featured Dr Gugulethu Tarakani, an Agroecology postdoctoral researcher at UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus, and UKZN alumna Dr Margaret Siyawamyaya from Zimbabwe.

All three attendees were recipients of the Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future fellowship – a global initiative that supports women from developing and emerging economies pursuing doctoral and postdoctoral research at leading universities.

Now administered by SLB, a global energy innovation company, the fellowship aims to create conditions that enable women scientists to flourish and emerge as leaders in their fields.

Kahiya, who conducts her research under the guidance of Professors Gert Kruger and Tricia Naicker at UKZN’s Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, described the forum as “a transformative experience that highlighted not only the unique challenges we face as African women in STEM but also the extraordinary opportunities that exist when we connect with global networks and resources.”

The four-day programme featured several high-profile speakers. Leadership expert Ms Sally Helgesen delivered a presentation on ‘How Women Rise’, offering actionable insights into overcoming barriers that impede women’s progress in professional environments.

The forum also showcased the work of the Mawazo Institute, a leading organisation based in East Africa dedicated to empowering African women researchers through research support, leadership development and entrepreneurship training.

“This focus on African-led solutions resonated strongly,” said Kahiya. “The Mawazo Institute’s mission to nurture the next generation of African scholars is vital. It’s a reminder that we must champion African perspectives and innovation to solve our continent’s unique challenges.”

A highlight of the event was the participation of the Baroness of Cambridge, together with academic leaders from Cambridge, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and other world-class institutions. Board members from SLB were also in attendance, reflecting the strong institutional support behind the fellowship and the broader initiative to empower women in STEM worldwide.

Kahiya said she was grateful for the opportunity to engage with such a prestigious and diverse network of academics, researchers and leaders. “Being part of this forum opened my eyes to the global scale of women’s contributions to STEM and reinforced my commitment to advancing pharmaceutical chemistry research with impact. It was truly inspiring to see how women from different backgrounds come together to support each other’s growth.”

The Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future fellowship remains open to applications from talented women in developing countries who wish to pursue research at leading universities.

More information is available here.

Words: Sally Frost

Photograph: Supplied