300 SECONDS with Neema Nduma

Dr Neema Mduma is a L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talents Award winner for Sub-Saharan Africa and this year’s recipient of the WIMA (Women in Management Africa) STEM Award.

We spoke with Dr Neema Mduma for 300 SECONDS to find out about her approach to bringing more girls into the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She is a L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talents Award winner for Sub-Saharan Africa and this year’s recipient of the WIMA (Women in Management Africa) STEM Award.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO?

My name is Neema Mduma, a lecturer at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, Tanzania and the founder of “BakiShule” initiative. 

WHY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?

From early ages I wanted to be an Engineer, this was due to the fact that I was good in Math thus my parents and teachers told me Engineering will suit me well. Later on, I realized the world is moving to digital economy where science and technology particularly computer science will be the main driver. For this reason, I switched to Computer Sciences. By working in this field, I can use emerging technologies such as Machine Learning (ML) to solve challenges in the society be it in Health, Education, Agriculture and so on.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO YOUNG GIRLS PURSUING STEM CAREERS?

The wrong perception that STEM careers are for boys. This discourages most young girls to pursue STEM.   

HOW ARE YOUR INITIATIVES ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE?

BakiShule initiative conducts free trainings, inspirational talks and workshops to secondary school students especially girls to encourage them to pursue STEM careers and expose them to fields such as data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Specifically, I have targeted these fields due to the fact that they are fewer girls in computer science and technology. Through these visits, I interact with a lot of secondary school girls who are curious and eager to learn how I managed to become a computer scientist. I believe my story will serve as an inspirational to most of them and will help to ignited science passion and eventually become scientists in the future.

WHAT CHANGES IN TANZANIA WILL IMPROVE THE IMPACT OF YOUR WORK?

If we can change community’s perception towards women in science, then we can inspire a lot of girls to pursue STEM careers. Currently, there is a general belief among most people that science and technology is for boys, so this need to change.  

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST FACTOR TO YOUR PERSONAL SUCCESS SO FAR?

Hard work, self-confidence, persistence, discipline and prayers are the keys to my success.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG GIRLS LOOKING TO GET STARTED IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?

My advice to girls who wish to pursue science is that they should work hard and believe in themselves. It is possible to be a girl and a scientist, and I, myself have set a good example.