Prof Wilmien Luus-Powell, SARChI Chair on Ecosystem Health, encourages women to make their mark in science. Photos: Evidence Mongwe
By Caroline Khoza – ulpublications@ul.ac.za
In conclusion of Women’s Month, women in science gathered at the University of Limpopo (UL) for the Women in Science for Sustainable Impact Seminar. The event celebrated their contributions, inspired students, and reimagined the role of women as catalysts for sustainable change
The seminar was not just a celebration, but a call to action, emphasising that science requires women just as much as society needs science.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof Wilmien Luus-Powell, SARChI Chair on Ecosystem Health in a Changing World, captivated the audience with her message themed “Pollution, Parasites, People and Places”. She underscored the fragile connection between human well-being and ecosystem health, warning that freshwater resources critical to rural communities are increasingly threatened by urbanisation, mining, and industrialisation.
“Rising pollution disrupts aquatic life and poses long-term risks to human health,” she cautioned. Yet her message went beyond warning; she urged the audience to view science not just as a career but as a support system for vulnerable communities. She highlighted the crucial role of parasites in biodiversity, conveying both urgency and hope. Her call for sustainable natural resource management recognised its importance in building resilient communities and empowering women.
The event also celebrated Prof Luus-Powell’s outstanding leadership in science, resonating with South Africa’s 2025 Women’s Month theme, “Building Resilient Economies for All.”
Prof Mmapatla Senyolo, Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Economics in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture at UL, is delivering a tribute to Women in Science and emphasising their vital role in advancing research, innovation, and sustainable solutions.
Adding her voice, Prof Mmapatla Senyolo, Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Economics in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture at UL, delivered a moving tribute to women in science. She commended their resilience, their contributions to knowledge, and their unwavering commitment to communities. However, she also issued a challenge, “Honouring women must not be symbolic. It must drive real institutional change. The world needs science to solve societal challenges, and science needs women to drive that change.”
Prof Senyolo urged women to leverage the resources they have, emphasising that empowerment involves not only representation but also unlocking solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
The emotional depth of the seminar was exemplified by Linah Raphela, a BSc in Agricultural Management student in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. Growing up in a rural community reliant on subsistence farming, her story highlighted the challenges and opportunities for young women in science.
“Events like Women in Science for Sustainable Impact broaden my perspective and connect me with role models who show that I am not alone in this journey,” she shared. “They build my confidence and inspire me to dream bigger, to lead, and to create solutions that benefit both my community and society at large.”
The closing panel brought together leading women scientists whose discussion reinforced the transformative role of mentorship, research, and innovation. They highlighted how women are not just breaking barriers, but reshaping Africa’s scientific landscape for generations to come.
The keynote speaker, panellists, and women from the Faculty of Science and Agriculture gathered for a commemorative moment after a successful Women in Science for Sustainable Impact Seminar at the University of Limpopo, celebrating mentorship, innovation, and the power of women in shaping sustainable futures.