Medo launches a programme to empower young women in science, technology, engineering and maths

Photo: Myolisi Sikupela

Myolisi Sikupela, writer and a filmmaker, Staff Reporter reports, "Last night, Medo hosted a discussion and presentation of its Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) programme." 

Young school girls telling the guests about their experiences
Photo: Memeburn

The event took place in Cape Town, with the young school girls telling the guests about their experiences and even brainstorming ideas on how the city can solve the problem of cable theft that affects the running of trains.   

Across industries, gender inequality is a white elephant that comfortably and has always sat right in the middle of these industries.

Science and technology is one of these industries. Companies like Uber and Microsoft and others have had to address this in different ways. Medo’s programme is along these other efforts to lure more women into the technology industry.

The programme is being conducted in collaboration with Isuzu trucks and Morehead State University in the USA, the worldwide leading institution and innovator of the nano satellite formats called CubeSat and PocketCubes.

The programme focuses on young women in high school, with the ultimate aim of these young women constructing the payload to be launched with Africa’s first ever private satellite. The launch of this is scheduled to happen in the first and second quarter of 2016.

The STEM programme was launched on 16 June 2015. MEDO identified that there is a considerable shortage of technical skills required to fulfil the technical needs of businesses in South Africa.  
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Source: Memeburn