adminSifelani Tsiko
Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
A seventeen-year-old Zimbabwean student has been nominated for a US virtual reality (VR) Beta programme which seeks to support high school pupils with a proficiency in science subjects and are interested in pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
Rutendo Kahari, an Advanced Level student at Speciss College in Bulawayo will join 12 other global learners under the VR Beta programme which will run from January to May 2021.
This programme brings together global learners between the ages of 14 -17, each representing a unique combination of age, gender, race, and geographic location and each possessing a unique interest in biology and biotech.
“I am very excited to be representing Zimbabwe, because this is not only an opportunity to raise the country’s flag but also a chance to show my peers that as long as you have discovered your passion and purpose in life the sky’s the limit,” said Rutendo.
“I’m also excited because I’m trying out new technologies which are rather rare in Zimbabwe. I’m hoping these technologies will soon be incorporated in the country’s education system because the future lies in the hands of technology.
“As a girl in STEM, I really wish to inspire the girl child across the nation that, if ‘Tendo’ can do it, you can do it too.”
Through the VR run by Dr Jennifer Jones of the Future Earth Academy in the US, students learn science in a more engaging and fascinating way.
Dr Jones aims to motivate students to take an active interest in science related subjects.
“The purpose of the VR Beta is to explore how virtual reality might support, amplify and innovate Future Earth Academy’s purpose and curriculum as well as the voices and agency of its global Learners,” she said in an online report.
“Learners are being supported by numerous mentors — one social-emotional mentor (“SEM”) and multiple field mentors from biotech and related disciplines. The beta project is “water quality” and includes extensive fieldwork, such as water sampling and testing.”
The programme uses the group Zoom calls with different combinations of Beta participants, facilitated by Dr Jones and other mentors.
In Africa, very few women pursue research in science and engineering fields.
Women continue to remain under-represented among STEM graduates, where the global gender gap stands at 47 percent, with 30 percent of male students graduating from STEM subjects in contrast to only 16 percent of female students, according to the 2016 Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Most African governments have embraced calls to help more girls to enrol into science and technology fields through STEM programmes.
This, it is hoped, will motivate girls to enrol in STEM programmes helping them overcome anxiety and gain confidence in their abilities.
The VR Beta programme offers a chance to bring new urgency to promoting girls’ access to science education, training and jobs.
“I’m currently in Upper Six studying Maths, Biology and Chemistry at Speciss College in Bulawayo. I’m hoping to study biomedicine and genetic engineering abroad because my dream is to one day make a medical discovery like finding a cure or treatment for a leading rare condition or disease,” Rutendo said.
Online Reporter