Chancellor College University of Malawi Chanco Hosts Africa Science Week
One of the highlights of this semester has been the Africa Science Week, when an entire week (24th to 28th September) was dedicated to displays, competitions, and activities related to science on the continent.
Leading the organizing of the event was Ms. Chikondi Shaba, a lecturer in the Chemistry department, who also happens to be the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Ambassador for Africa. She was assisted by various other individuals from the Faculty of Science as well as other sections of the college. Further was rendered by various organisations, including Johnson and Johnson, Dreams Innovation Challenge Project, Click-mobile, MLW, and Chancellor college, Malawi Girls in STEM, mHub, Women in Tech Africa, and School of Data.
During the event, a number of activities were held. It commenced with a Science and Tech Expo, a Coding Challenge, and presentations and discussions at Chancellor College. There was also a Girls STEM mini-conference held at Robins Park in Zomba, which featured real life stories and career talks by young STEM professionals. After that, the events continued in Blantyre, where young students from Blantyre rural were taken on an educational visit to Wellcome Trust. The week ended with a Women in Science Commemoration in Lilongwe, where several women working in science related disciplines were invited to engage in discussions.
Ms Shaba points out that as the NEF Ambassador, one of her main objectives is to make STEM subjects attractive to young girls in the country.
There are plans to follow up the Africa Science Week with more events. “With Malawi Girls in STEM and Dreams Innovation Challenge, we have made plans for events like career and science fairs, leadership conference, and planned rural school visits where we meet with students introducing role models and carrying out the scientific experiments” Shaba says. “And we are also open to invitations, collaborations and sponsorship.”