In this enlightening discussion, Professor Tebello Nyokong shares her remarkable journey from herding sheep in Lesotho to becoming a leading figure in nanotechnology and cancer treatment. Overcoming systemic educational barriers during apartheid, she emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the transformative power of education. Tebello passionately details her groundbreaking work in photodynamic therapy, aiming to establish Africa as a science superpower. Her story is a testament to resilience, ambition, and breaking gender stereotypes in the scientific community.
Tebello Nyokong's resilience in overcoming apartheid's education barriers underscores the importance of equitable access to educational opportunities for all children.
Her innovative work in cancer treatment using nanotechnology highlights the critical role of local scientists in enhancing healthcare outcomes in Africa.
Deep dives
Overcoming Educational Barriers
Tabello Enyokong's journey illustrates the significant barriers she faced in accessing education due to apartheid in South Africa, which enforced a segregated schooling system. The Bantu Education Act restricted black South African children to government-run schools that prepared them for manual labor rather than higher education. In pursuit of better educational opportunities, Tabello's family made the critical decision to relocate to Lesotho, where she could attend school while also managing responsibilities such as herding sheep. This experience not only highlighted her resilience but also reinforced the message that she could achieve anything a boy could, instilling a strong work ethic that would serve her throughout her academic journey.
Passion for Science and Innovation
As Tabello progressed through her studies, she discovered her passion for science, particularly chemistry, while initially exploring humanities subjects in high school. After realizing her aptitude for math and science, she made a significant switch in her academic focus and went on to pursue a university degree in chemistry in Lesotho. Her motivation to become a scientist emerged from the understanding that scientists develop innovative drugs and treatments, a realization that proved pivotal in shaping her career. Eventually, despite structural challenges, she moved to Canada to further her education, where she became involved in novel cancer treatment methods such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), leveraging her expertise in nanotechnology to improve therapeutic outcomes.
Investing in Future Generations
Throughout her career, Tabello has dedicated herself to training the next generation of scientists in Africa, aiming to combat brain drain by nurturing local talent. She has supervised numerous students and emphasized the importance of building a robust research community within African countries. Despite facing obstacles in implementing her cancer treatment innovations in South Africa, her commitment to education reflects a broader vision of elevating African scientific contributions on the global stage. By fostering excellence and supporting aspiring scientists, Tabello is paving the way for substantial advancements in healthcare and solidifying a legacy of empowerment within her community.
Dr Julia Ravey and Dr Ella Hubber are both scientists, but it turns out there’s a lot they don’t know about the women that came before them. In Unstoppable, Julia and Ella tell each other the hidden, world-shaping stories of the scientists, engineers and innovators that they wish they’d known about when they were starting out in science. This week, the story of a woman who gained her education by herding sheep during her childhood to becoming one of Africa’s most prominent scientists.
Born under Apartheid in South Africa, Tebello Nyokong and her family uprooted their lives to escape the unequal education system enforced upon Black South Africans. After herding sheep proved she could do anything a boy could do, Tebello ended up studying science and found a love for chemistry. In the face of limited opportunities, she once again uprooted her life and took her studies oversees, but this was when she was introduced to something huge: a new, ground-breaking cancer treatment. Now Tebello is using nanotechnology to get this therapy off the ground, all while she fights to make Africa a science superpower.
Presenters: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey
Guest Speaker: Professor Tebello Nyokong
Producers: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey
Assistant producers: Sophie Ormiston, Anna Charalambou and Josie Hardy
Sound Designer: Ella Roberts
Production Coordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Editor: Holly Squire
(Image: Professor Tebello Nyokong. Credit: Professor Tebello Nyokong)
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