Tuks prof elected first female president for African Academy of Science
Korsten's appointment is a historic moment for the academy, and signals a new era of progress and innovation, as it's never had a female president since inception in 1985.
Professor Lise Korsten of the University of Pretoria has taken the helm as the first female president of the African Academy of Science (AAS) and is already making an impact in her new role.
Her appointment is an historic moment for the academy, and signals a new era of progress and innovation.
The academy, a pan-African body established in 1985 to promote science, technology, and innovation on the continent, has never had a female president in its 38 years of existence.
Korsten is a professor of plant pathology and co-director in the Department of Science and Innovation – National Research Foundation (DSI-NRF) Centre of Excellence in food security.
“I must be honest, I did not think I was going to get elected,” said Korsten.
She said it was a very challenging position that would require extensive networking, building relations with stakeholders and creating new partnerships.
“To champion change I will need to, as a priority, realign, re-focus, recharge, and redeploy people and committees, and redesign structures and systems that will take us into a very new, exciting, but different future.”
Korsten expressed her gratitude and humility for being chosen to lead the academy, stating she was honoured to have been given such a significant responsibility.
She said being the first woman to hold the position of president of the academy came with big responsibility and was acutely aware of the expectations and challenges ahead but determined to deliver on the mandate entrusted to her.
Korsten was committed to continuing the legacy of the AAS and building on its many successes.
“It is about the African continent, and it is all about timing. The time is now for Africa to rise, and the opportunities are enormous if we are ready to explore these.”
She said the governing council would have to accelerate the pace of transformation and adjustment to catch the waves of opportunity, otherwise Africa will miss the boat and not rise to the occasion.
“We should not be left behind so should lead the way, because the next century will bring significant changes and opportunities.”
Korsten said the academy would need to grow, invest in, and nurture youth and particularly female scientists, because they are our biggest asset.
Her vision for the academy is a strong, dedicated governing council that will take it to new heights, build trust and respect within the secretariat, and develop a turnaround strategy.
She said during her term she wanted to achieve big by increasing the number of fellows and focusing on the diaspora and investors to help create new centres of excellence in Africa.
The academy and the continent will endeavour to focus on areas such as health, climate change, water, energy, and food security, as well as the many socio-political challenges, said Korsten.
“We will embrace new technologies such as AI that can provide future solutions for our continent and seek peace and prosperity for all our people and work towards the [African Union’s] ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’.”
The academy is planning new sub-committees and exciting projects, such as developing young African scientists, a focus on female academics and women’s health.
“We also aim to strengthen relations with the African Union, European Union, World Economic Forum, and so on, as well as the International Science Councils, Inter-Academy partnership, other academies in China, the United States of America and Europe, as well as African institutions, academies and, most importantly, developing a unique African footprint in science.”
Korsten encouraged young people to dream the impossible dream, but not make dreams their master.
“Find a balance in life and invest in good friendships, love your work, build careers, find good mentors and become fellows of the African Academy of Science.”
She said seeing stars in the eyes of young people with dreams, aspirations and, most importantly, a determination to succeed, encouraged her to keep working hard.
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