Soapbox Science sets the pace for female researchers in STEMM

By Chiamaka Ozulumba
An international science outreach for women was held for the first time in Nigeria. On November 23, 2019 at the Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Lagos, 10 leading Nigerian female researchers in different fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) spoke at the event.
The event, Soapbox Science, offers women scientists the opportunity to showcase their research and engage with the public. It reached over 300 members of the public, who were able to engage with the speakers, learning about different STEMM topics and receiving answers to their questions. An attendee said “It gives women a platform to communicate their works” another said “it is very informative and educative” others commented on the semi-formal setting which they said boosted engagement with the public.
Soapbox Science was co-founded by Dr Seirian Sumner and Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, both research biologists in the United Kingdom. The Lagos November event had three sessions each with four speakers. The talks ran simultaneously, providing the public with a choice of topics.
The Female STEMM researchers and their talk titles at the event included: Ms Amarachukwu Vivian Arazu, University of Nigeria, “Bioplastics and the environment; Dr Sylvia Onyinyechi Anyadoh-Nwadike, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, “Are you afraid of Microorganisms?; Dr Oluwatoyin Adebola Adeleye, Hadassah Scientific Supplies, Lagos, “Try to imagine having your prescribed drug modified to suit your genome”; Prof Ifeoma Maureen Ezeonu, University of Nigeria, “Bacteria: Friend, Foe or Both?”; Mrs Akinlabi Olabisi Comfort, University of Ibadan, “Diarrhoea; a threat to infant life”; Dr Olukemi Titilope Olugbade, African Field Epidemiology Network, OAU Teaching Hospital, “Platforms of Expression: Science, Soapbox and Social Media in Disease Surveillance”; Dr Emuejevoke Toye, University of Lagos, “Early diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia can save lives; Dr Simiat Olanike Elias, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Salt and Genes: The Mix to watch in Hypertension; Dr Yewande Ijose, Lagos State Health Service Commission, “The breast in radiology and the woman” and Dr Adebisi Adedayo Adebisi, Lagos State University College of Medicine, “Using medicinal plants to reduce the side effects of combined oral contraceptives”.
Since 2011, the global Soapbox Science events have featured over 1500 scientists and reached 150,000 members of the public, with 56 events planned for 2020. The organising team for the Lagos November session are grateful to the volunteers, speakers and sponsors (School of Life Sciences University of Sussex UK, Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Maltina by Nigerian Breweries PLC, STEMJets and OneAir Global Travel and Tours Ltd). Dr O Aniejurengho, who led the team said “the event presents a unique opportunity to showcase the exciting research that Nigerian women do and inspire the younger generation about different career opportunities in STEMM” .

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