ABOUT US
Our Vision
We are convinced that a better empowerment of african women at the forefront of STEM fields and careers will speed up the response to Africa’s key challenges, including Poverty, Corruption, Environmental problems, Armed Conflict, Political Instability…
Our Core Values :
Collaboration | Listening | Empathy | Renewal
Our Mission
Help and support young girls and women in Africa and Cameroon in particular to better integrate and realize their full potential in STEM fields and careers.
At She STEMin Africa, we’re working to realize this vision so that, through our association, more women become involved in the STEM fields described below. But more than that, we want to provide these women with all the support they may need to blossom both academically and professionally.
Our Team and Ambassadors
And many more ambassadors to come
« She STEMin Africa » project is the initiative of Dr. Pulchérie Matsodoum Nguemté.
Pulchérie comes from the western region of Cameroon (« Bamiléké »), and is the 3rd of 8 children, mainly girls. Among her siblings, she is by far the least intelligent (or so she has always convinced herself), due to her poor academic prowess in high school. But, she quickly realized her abilities when she was determined to achieve her goals. In fact, she is persevering and has always been described as a strong woman. She ended up passing all her classes to the point of becoming the first (men and women combined) to hold a PhD degree in her entire extended family.
Dr. Matsodoum studied in Cameroon and obtained a Master’s degree in Plant Biotechnology. After being selected for a doctorate, her thesis topic, which dealt with the clean-up of hydrocarbon-polluted soils, was funded by the Schlumberger Foundation (Faculty For The Future). This grant is awarded to women from developing countries enrolled in doctoral or post-doctoral studies. Dr. Matsodoum pursued her thesis work in partnership with the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon and the University of Strasbourg in France and defended her doctoral thesis in Biotechnologies and Environment on May 20, 2019. This day is a celebration day in her country and will remain memorable for her, especially as it marks Cameroon’s independence.
During her doctoral studies, Dr. Matsodoum’s ambition was already to contribute to the development of research professions and to work on technology transfer in her home country, Cameroon. To achieve this, she found it necessary to take an MBA-like post-doctoral course at Strasbourg’s Faculty of Economics and Management, at the end of which she obtained a position as Business Developer in a Strasbourg-based start-up spin-off from INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical research).
Determined to tackle inequalities in the STEM fields and work towards a new vision of the socio-professional integration of women in developing African countries, and more specifically in Cameroon, Dr. Matsodoum decided to create « She STEMin Africa » in October 2022.
The differences observed between her home country and the rest of the world as a result of her many travels and external collaborations during and after her Ph.D, as well as the issues linked to the long-term involvement of women from developing countries in the STEM fields and careers, were the determining points in setting up this project.
She is convinced that Africa’s development will not happen without the deep involvement of women, who are capable of achieving much more than they are given credit for.
Our Board Members
Some STEM fields explained
BIOLOGY
or the study of living things, explores the different forms of life on our planet. It is a science that examines organisms, their structure, function and evolution.
Microbiology – Ecology – Genetics – Physiology are all part of biology.
Biologists can research new diseases to find innovative treatments, study ecosystems to help preserve biodiversity, work in the agri-food industry to improve yields and develop new crop varieties.
Career opportunities include medical research, environmental conservation, agriculture, biochemistry, biotechnology and teaching.
CHEMISTRY
is the science of elements and compounds that enables us to understand and manipulate the matter around us, and to study its structure, properties and transformations.
The main branches of chemistry are organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and physical chemistry.
Chemists can:
- study compounds (substances formed by the combination of different chemical elements)
- understand and predict chemical reactions, which are the processes by which elements and compounds transform into other substances.
Chemists can work in research laboratories, the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, environmental regulatory agencies, universities and much more.
PHYSICS
is the study of matter and energy. It explores the fundamental laws that govern the universe, seeking to understand natural phenomena through observation, experimentation and mathematical modeling.
The branches of physics are mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics and quantum physics.
Physics plays a key role in the development of new technologies (computers, telecommunications, renewable energy, transport, medicine, etc.).
Physicists can solve complex problems, develop new theories and technologies, and contribute to the advancement of society as a whole.
Careers related to physics include research and development (R&D), teaching, engineering, consulting, information technology, etc.
GEOLOGY
is the study of the Earth and its components. It explores the different layers of the Earth, from the crust through the mantle to the core. Using methods of observation, analysis and interpretation, geologists are able to understand the geological processes that have shaped our planet over time.
Sub-disciplines of geology include structural geology, sedimentary geology, geochemistry, geophysics, paleontology and more.
Geologists play an essential role in many fields, including mineral exploration, natural resource exploitation, the management of natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, oil and gas research, and the study of past and future climate change. They also help to preserve the environment by assessing the impact of human activities on terrestrial ecosystems.
Career opportunities for geologists are varied, ranging from laboratory research positions to field assignments, as well as jobs in the extractive industry and government agencies.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
focuses on the study of information and data processing.
Its fields include programming, software design, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, computer networks and more.
In today’s world, where the amount of data generated every day is exponential, mastery of IT is becoming increasingly valuable.
Companies and organizations of all sizes need IT specialists to manage and analyze their data, develop customized software solutions, ensure the security of their systems and many other essential tasks.
IT professionals can work in a wide variety of sectors, such as healthcare, finance, the gaming industry, scientific research, the media and more. They can also contribute to technological advancement and have a significant impact on society by developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
Professional opportunities are vast and constantly evolving, which means there are always
new technologies to explore and new challenges to meet.
MATHEMATICS
is often considered the essential tool for science, as it plays a crucial role in many scientific fields, from physics and biology to chemistry and computer science. Mathematics is the ultimate tool for modeling and analysis.
Mathematics enables scientists to formulate laws, theories and predictive models. Mathematics is also a discipline in its own right, with fascinating areas of research and theories. Pure mathematics focuses on the study of abstract structures such as numbers, geometric shapes and functions. Applied mathematics, on the other hand, uses mathematical concepts to solve concrete problems in a variety of fields.
Mathematicians can work in scientific research, engineering, finance, computer science and data analysis. They are also in demand in technology companies and academic institutions.