African Women in Chemistry

Chemistry is a fundamental science that studies the composition, structure and transformations of matter. It underpins many fields of application, such as health, energy, the environment and materials. Chemistry is therefore an essential lever for the economic, social and environmental development of the African continent.

Yet African women are still under-represented in the world of chemistry, despite their potential and contribution. According to UNESCO, women account for just 30% of researchers in sub-Saharan Africa, and even less in scientific and technical disciplines. They face many obstacles, such as stereotypes, discrimination, lack of financial or institutional support, or difficulty in reconciling professional and family life.

Fortunately, some African women have succeeded in overcoming these barriers and carving out a place for themselves in the world of chemistry. They have become role models and sources of inspiration for younger generations of girls wishing to embark on a scientific career. Here are just a few examples of the women who are driving science forward in Africa and around the world.

• Ndeye Maty Ndiaye (Senegal): This post-doctoral researcher in engineering sciences and technologies is developing new biomass-based electrodes for energy storage. These environmentally-friendly batteries could be used in cell phones and wind turbines alike.
• Agnès Antoinette Ntoumba (Cameroon): This researcher is interested in malaria, one of the biggest killers in Africa. She has developed a bio-insecticide based on plants endemic to Cameroon to combat mosquito larvae.
• Dominique Fatima Voumbo Matoumona (Congo): This researcher leads several research projects on malaria, notably on the resistance of the parasites that cause this disease to existing antimalarial treatments. She studies resistance genes in mosquitoes and aims to provide national malaria control programs with a tool for analyzing the use of current treatments.
• Marie Daly (USA): In 1947, Marie Daly became the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry. Most of her career was spent as a university professor. In particular, she studied the effects of cholesterol on the cardiovascular system and the causes of heart attacks.
• Francine Ntoumi (Congo): This researcher specializes in malaria, a disease that mainly affects Africa. She was the first African to head the secretariat of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria, which aims to coordinate efforts to research and combat this disease. She also founded the Congolese Foundation for Medical Research, which contributes to strengthening health research capacities in Central Africa.

These are just a few of the many examples of the impact of African women in the world of chemistry and sciences in general. They have demonstrated creativity, rigor and perseverance in carrying out their research and finding innovative solutions to their society’s problems. They have also contributed to the dissemination and promotion of scientific culture in Africa and worldwide. They therefore deserve to be recognized and celebrated for their work and commitment.