1
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,120
Speaker 1: You with banibing one seven or two weekday mornings six

2
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:06,279
Speaker 1: to nine am.

3
00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,800
Speaker 2: For the last twenty five years, Laurel Unesco for Women

4
00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,640
Speaker 2: in Science Sub Saharan Africa program has been championing women,

5
00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:22,000
Speaker 2: particularly understanding the importance of having women in STEM careers.

6
00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,040
Speaker 2: This is about real world impact from environmental solutions to

7
00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,360
Speaker 2: technological breakthroughs. And to tell us more about what is

8
00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,320
Speaker 2: in store for the Lureal Unesco for Women in Science

9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,000
Speaker 2: today is Michelle Hololo, who is of course the program

10
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,479
Speaker 2: leader who joins us in studio. Michelle, a very good

11
00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:41,879
Speaker 2: morning to you and thank you for joining us.

12
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:43,800
Speaker 1: Good morning, good morning to the listener.

13
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,280
Speaker 2: Tell us about this initiative, the Loreal Unesco for Women

14
00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:48,960
Speaker 2: in Science initiative.

15
00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,440
Speaker 1: As you've mentioned, for twenty five years, we've been championing

16
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,640
Speaker 1: the support for women in science. The loyal Lenus Go

17
00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:00,000
Speaker 1: for Women in Science program stemmed from understanding that we're

18
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,120
Speaker 1: men are really underrepresented in the science field. And as Loreal,

19
00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,240
Speaker 1: most people will know it as a cosmetic company, but

20
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,200
Speaker 1: we are a science based company. Innovation is in I

21
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,320
Speaker 1: DNA and what best way to give back then empowering

22
00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,600
Speaker 1: women in STEM is you know STEM has got great

23
00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,920
Speaker 1: potential to really solve the global world challenges that we're facing.

24
00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,959
Speaker 2: It. Yeah, indeed, because there's no you don't have a

25
00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,480
Speaker 2: product line if there's no science to back it up. Right,

26
00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,680
Speaker 2: So why is this a program that women scientists should

27
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:33,520
Speaker 2: pay attention to?

28
00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,800
Speaker 1: Women's scientists should pay attention to it by any because

29
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,160
Speaker 1: not only do we provide them with the grants and

30
00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,280
Speaker 1: the financial support they need to further their studies, but

31
00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,200
Speaker 1: we're providing them with access to a whole wide of

32
00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,200
Speaker 1: women community scientists. And this is on a global stage,

33
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,680
Speaker 1: and that means more collaborations, more you know, engagements with

34
00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:03,360
Speaker 1: other women like scientists. And we also offer you you

35
00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,800
Speaker 1: always say leadership skills, we offer you negotiation skills because

36
00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,560
Speaker 1: as women, you need to be able to walk into

37
00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,680
Speaker 1: the room and say, hey, I'm here, recognize me, and

38
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:13,440
Speaker 1: find my work.

39
00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,320
Speaker 2: What challenges do women, particularly on the African continent face

40
00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:19,959
Speaker 2: when it comes to STEM careers.

41
00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,640
Speaker 1: The biggest challenge, as I've mentioned Braney, is funding. Women

42
00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,600
Speaker 1: find that once you have you now in your PhD,

43
00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,400
Speaker 1: you are now in your post doctorate, funding is not

44
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,320
Speaker 1: something that is easily available. So finding has been one

45
00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,280
Speaker 1: of the biggest challenges, which is where we come in

46
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,960
Speaker 1: as Lord Elginesco to provide that funding for the ladies.

47
00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,079
Speaker 1: Another challenge is the fact that you know, science when

48
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,480
Speaker 1: you grew up has always been a men type of fields.

49
00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,000
Speaker 1: So women are not really encouraged to take up science

50
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,079
Speaker 1: fills and it's one of those that when you're coming in,

51
00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,120
Speaker 1: it's not easy for you to just get up and

52
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,640
Speaker 1: show up. So those are some of the challenges that

53
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,000
Speaker 1: we find and we found, you know, it's very important

54
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,880
Speaker 1: for us to also in terms of bridging the gap

55
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,600
Speaker 1: and making sure that women are sitting on the same

56
00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,720
Speaker 1: footing as you know, their counterparts in the science field.

57
00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:12,600
Speaker 1: Just where we're come in to bridge that gap.

58
00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,400
Speaker 2: All right, So you're offering an opportunity for women, particularly

59
00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,760
Speaker 2: in STEM careers. What is that opportunity and how do

60
00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,880
Speaker 2: people access, you know, how do they get in?

61
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,600
Speaker 1: So the program at caters for post doctorates and PhD

62
00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:33,160
Speaker 1: female scientists who are in whether you're doing health sciences,

63
00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,080
Speaker 1: environmental sciences, engineering, chemical engineering. All the information can really

64
00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:42,480
Speaker 1: be found on our loyal leness co dot com website

65
00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,720
Speaker 1: for all the information and then to for PhD doc

66
00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,280
Speaker 1: for PhD students, we have a grand amount of about

67
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,280
Speaker 1: two hundred thousand, which you use to feather your your

68
00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,120
Speaker 1: research studies and for postdocs, were looking about three hundred thousand,

69
00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,600
Speaker 1: which goes a long way in really helping to you know,

70
00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,360
Speaker 1: solve the world challenges.

71
00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,080
Speaker 2: I know one doctor Bombasier May is a previous award.

72
00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,600
Speaker 2: How did this help her journey? Sis?

73
00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,600
Speaker 1: Actually now I currently is she's in our corehord right now.

74
00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,160
Speaker 1: So how this is helping her? Like I said, more

75
00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,520
Speaker 1: than funding Barani, we are opening up doors for her.

76
00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,320
Speaker 1: And in terms of like I said, making sure that

77
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,559
Speaker 1: now she is have got access to you know, women

78
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,760
Speaker 1: in science, you know the systems that can support in

79
00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,520
Speaker 1: the field. And you know when you look at Laurel

80
00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,359
Speaker 1: Unisco on your badge, it offers you visibility. And I

81
00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,640
Speaker 1: had a conversation with her and it's like now that

82
00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,640
Speaker 1: I've ben moved from my university because you know, somebody

83
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,200
Speaker 1: mentioned that, oh you are a loyal Unisco, a loreate.

84
00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,800
Speaker 1: So more than anything, visibility, it opens stores and it

85
00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,000
Speaker 1: really gives you a step ahead in careers.

86
00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:53,880
Speaker 2: That's why I was excited to talk to you about

87
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,640
Speaker 2: this conversation because more of that, please. Michelle Hololo is

88
00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,080
Speaker 2: the program lead for the Laurier UNESCO for Women in

89
00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,200
Speaker 2: Science Initiative. Thank you for joining us.

90
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:04,960
Speaker 1: Thank you by Honey