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Listen "STEM Positive Disruptor - MIA conversation with special guest, Associate Professor Karuri-Sebina PhD, Wits School of Governance"
Episode Synopsis
This is another STEM Positive Disruptor - MIA conversation
with special guest, Associate Professor Karuri-Sebina PhD, Wits School of
Governance (The University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa).
She describes herself as a thinker, researcher and sometimes
a doer, you need to listen to our conversation and she works in the
intersection between people, place and technological change, an expert in
futures and foresight. Based in South Africa, with a background in computer
science, architecture, sociology, and urban planning. Geci has a background in
using tech and innovation to work with communities on a wide range of local
development and social transformation issues and currently lectures on innovation
systems policy for developing countries, and innovation systems for social
purposes. Her expertise is broad and varied, she has written a few books and
articles as an individual but also in collaboration with others, the most
recent book is called "Innovation Ecosystems in Africa" and there is
a follow-up coming soon.
I am so grateful that Geci was able to make time to have a
conversation with me (what a powerful and thought-provoking conversation it
was).
I asked among other things,
if STE(A)M and Innovation is the
game changer in Africa and if Africa is ready to be in the fore front of change
and bridge the gap and provide solutions where education, industry and
government is concerned in Africa and globally. Again listen to our
conversation to hear her response.
I will share some of the facts that I gleaned from our
conversation and solutions provided:
1. Innovation does happen in Africa, during COVID, 12% of
technological innovation across the world came from Africa in the first year.
2. To encourage more young people, especially females to
take on STEM subjects and profession, we have to show the interconnection
between technical subjects, sciences and actual developmental and social issues
affecting our world.
3. The Eco-System in Africa has to enable the thinkers,
innovators, and doers to flourish, which includes investing in them (capital)
and also link the formal and informal systems (not everyone will go through the
educational path currently in place)
4. You need to listen
to her recommendation for the government, education, and industry in Africa
and beyond, especially the concern we have on skills
shortage globally.
This platform is to Educate, Raise awareness, Demystify and
Change Perception about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
and make it more accessible to the public.
with special guest, Associate Professor Karuri-Sebina PhD, Wits School of
Governance (The University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa).
She describes herself as a thinker, researcher and sometimes
a doer, you need to listen to our conversation and she works in the
intersection between people, place and technological change, an expert in
futures and foresight. Based in South Africa, with a background in computer
science, architecture, sociology, and urban planning. Geci has a background in
using tech and innovation to work with communities on a wide range of local
development and social transformation issues and currently lectures on innovation
systems policy for developing countries, and innovation systems for social
purposes. Her expertise is broad and varied, she has written a few books and
articles as an individual but also in collaboration with others, the most
recent book is called "Innovation Ecosystems in Africa" and there is
a follow-up coming soon.
I am so grateful that Geci was able to make time to have a
conversation with me (what a powerful and thought-provoking conversation it
was).
I asked among other things,
if STE(A)M and Innovation is the
game changer in Africa and if Africa is ready to be in the fore front of change
and bridge the gap and provide solutions where education, industry and
government is concerned in Africa and globally. Again listen to our
conversation to hear her response.
I will share some of the facts that I gleaned from our
conversation and solutions provided:
1. Innovation does happen in Africa, during COVID, 12% of
technological innovation across the world came from Africa in the first year.
2. To encourage more young people, especially females to
take on STEM subjects and profession, we have to show the interconnection
between technical subjects, sciences and actual developmental and social issues
affecting our world.
3. The Eco-System in Africa has to enable the thinkers,
innovators, and doers to flourish, which includes investing in them (capital)
and also link the formal and informal systems (not everyone will go through the
educational path currently in place)
4. You need to listen
to her recommendation for the government, education, and industry in Africa
and beyond, especially the concern we have on skills
shortage globally.
This platform is to Educate, Raise awareness, Demystify and
Change Perception about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
and make it more accessible to the public.
In God we trust