SWIS Africa and Carnegie Mellon University Africa Launch Transformative Research Communication Program

In an inspiring partnership between Shaping African Women in STEM (SWIS Africa) and Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU Africa), a groundbreaking initiative is underway to bridge a critical gap often overlooked in the journey of women in STEM—research communication.

The SWIS Africa Research Training Program, hosted in collaboration with CMU Africa, is a bold response to the silent struggle many African women in science face: navigating the leap from academic learning to confidently presenting their research and stepping into leadership in professional spaces.

Why This Matters

While more women are entering STEM fields across Africa, the numbers tell only part of the story. A significant number of young women still feel underprepared when it comes to articulating their work, branding themselves professionally, or stepping into the limelight to showcase their contributions to science and innovation. Whether it’s delivering presentations, publishing findings, or using digital tools to amplify their research—there’s a gap that needs to be filled.

The Goal?

To build the research communication capacity and confidence of African women in STEM through hands-on training in presentation, digital storytelling, and personal branding.

The Approach

The program unfolds in three key stages:

1. Capacity-Building Workshop

   1. A one-day hybrid session with expert speakers from both academia and media.

   2. Topics range from scientific writing and ethical research to storytelling, LinkedIn optimization, and public speaking.

   3. The event includes interactive panels and Q&A sessions, designed to create a dynamic learning environment.

2. Train-the-Trainer Research Showcase

   1. From the workshop, 10 female students at CMU Africa are selected based on the strength of their ongoing research.

   2. These students receive further training on how to transform complex research into accessible, engaging narratives.

3. Content Creation and Public Engagement

   1. The selected students are professionally interviewed and recorded presenting their research in vlog-style videos.

   2. These videos are published on the SWIS Africa YouTube Channel, providing visibility and role models for other young African women in STEM

📅 Launching September

Let’s raise voices and reimagine what African women in STEM can achieve.