The documentary “The Science of African Women” premieres in Angola
Thursday, February 20th. On Monday, February 11th, in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Spanish Embassy, in collaboration with the Association of Spanish Scientists in Southern Africa and the Luanda Science Center, organized a screening of the documentary “The Science of African Women.” The event was followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Elena Trigo, Spanish medical researcher and member of ACESDA, and Mr. André Gomes, curator and coordinator of the Cinéfilos & Literatus project.
The documentary reviews the first eight years of the Science by Women project, which allows African women scientists to undertake research stays at top research centres in Spain. Through firsthand testimonies from prominent scientists from various African countries, the documentary sheds light on the unique and challenging experiences these women face in their respective fields.
The protagonists share their personal experiences as women in science, discussing critical issues such as gender inequality, the professional challenges they have overcome, the disparity between science in their regions and that of Western countries, and the difficulties in accessing industry, along with the lack of adequate technical resources to conduct their research.
Prior to the screening, Dr. Luzia Barros, Deputy Director of the Luanda Science Center, warmly welcomed the attendees. Following her, Spanish Ambassador Manuel Lejarreta took the floor to highlight the significant impact of the Foundation’s work in Africa, emphasizing the vital role of women in all areas of society, with particular focus on the scientific field.
The Ambassador also highlighted Spain’s commitment to a feminist foreign policy, aimed at promoting the empowerment of women in a cross-cutting manner across its cooperation and collaboration initiatives with allied countries.
Following the documentary screening, a roundtable discussion was held, moderated by Dr. Elena Trigo and Mr. André Gomes. The dialogue featured prominent professionals from the fields of science and human resources, including Dr. Honória Domingos from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNIC); Dr. Luciana Simões, a neurologist and healthcare management specialist; Dr. Eva Rosa Santos, founder of the organization Liderazgo Femenino; and Dr. Zaida Francisco, a well engineer and member of Ondjango Feminista.
During the discussion, the speakers explored the challenges and barriers faced by women in scientific research across different African countries. The conversation was further enriched by the testimony of an Angolan student studying biological and neurocognitive sciences at Ewha Women’s University in South Korea, offering a personal perspective on the topic.
The audience engaged actively, posing questions and offering reflections on the status of women and girls in science. The experts responded with valuable insights, drawing from their perspectives and personal experiences to further deepen the conversation.
Some images from the event, courtesy of Cinéfilos & Literatus:
