CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

2023 SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN IN SCIENCE AWARDS

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND INNOVATION TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) calls for nominations for the 2023 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA). The awards recognise and reward excellence by women scientists and researchers, and profile them as role models for younger women. The awards will be made to women who are South African citizens or permanent residents.

The theme for the 2023 SAWiSA is Harnessing technological change and innovation to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. This is derived from the theme of the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) held from 6 to 17 March 2023, which is “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. The UNCSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It monitors UN Member States’ global standards for achieving gender equality and, through UN Women, works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented to truly benefit women and girls worldwide. UN Women ensures that the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals is a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.

Awards will be made in the distinguished young woman researchers and distinguished woman researchers categories in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), and Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences categories, as well as in any field aligned with the theme.

The SAWiSA also incorporates awards to currently registered master’s and PhD students, namely, the DSI Fellowships. The fellowships are not restricted to the theme.
The 2023 SAWiSA will be presented on 24 August 2023 as part of the Department’s celebration of Women’s Month. The awards will be made in the following categories:

1. Awards for Distinguished Woman Researchers
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences
• Research Leading to Technological Change and Innovation in Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Girls and Women

2. Awards for Distinguished Young Woman Researchers
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences
• Research Leading to Technological Change and Innovation in Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Girls and Women

3. DSI Fellowships
• Six master’s students: two in Natural Sciences, one in Engineering Sciences, one in HSS, one in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and one in Astronomy.
• Six PhD students: two in Natural Sciences, one in Engineering Sciences, one in HSS, one in IKS and one in Astronomy

NOMINATION/ APPLICATION PROCESS

Nominations and applications must reach the Department of Science and Innovation by Monday, 19 June 2023.

No late submissions will be accepted.

The nomination form, CV template and submission checklist for researchers are available at the following link: click here.

The application form and submission checklist for DSI Fellowships are available at the following link: click here.

The application or nomination forms should be accompanied by the documentation specified for each category. To meet the requirements, all the abovementioned forms and supporting documents must be completed, clearly indicating the category, and submitted electronically to SAWiSA@dst.gov.za.

PLEASE NOTE: Only shortlisted finalists will be contacted.

For more information, contact Dr Maphuti Madiga on 079 510 9279 or at Maphuti.Madiga@dst.gov.za.