The African Research Academies for Women

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The African Research Academies for Women ARA-W seeks, for the first time, to enable African university women pursuing the sciences, to be introduced to the world of research.

Africa’s capacity to compete on the global scene depends on her ability to adopt innovative technologies as well as high research output in the form of drugs development, etc. This will require practical solutions that will leverage the playing field for the future generation of scientists, both men and women. In line with this, Students for A Healthy Africa (SAHA) conducted a 2-month survey and concluded that the root reason behind the lack of women in science was simply because a huge proportion (about 90%) of them never had the opportunity to engage with research during their college years. In response, we have developed the African Research Academy for Women (ARA-W), a premier research program that will enable at least 5 exceptional African university undergraduate women in the sciences to spend 2 months of the long-term summer vacation at University of Ghana's Noguchi Medical Research Institute (NMRI).

Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is a Mauritian scientist and former President of Mauritius. She was born on 17 October 1959 and ...
10/12/2026

Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is a Mauritian scientist and former President of Mauritius. She was born on 17 October 1959 and studied chemistry at the University of Surrey before earning a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Exeter. She later returned to Mauritius and worked at the University of Mauritius, where she became a professor of organic chemistry and held senior academic positions.

Dr. Gurib-Fakim is particularly known for her research into medicinal plants and biodiversity. Her scientific work explored the medicinal properties of plants, especially those found in Mauritius and Africa. She received several international awards for her contributions to science, including the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science in 2007 and the African Union Award for Women in Science.

In 2015, she became the first woman to be elected President of Mauritius, serving until 2018. She remains an important African figure in science and public life.

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Dr. Tebello Nyokong is a renowned South African scientist and professor who has made important contributions to chemistr...
10/04/2026

Dr. Tebello Nyokong is a renowned South African scientist and professor who has made important contributions to chemistry, nanotechnology, and cancer research. She is particularly known for her research on photodynamic therapy, a treatment approach that uses light and specially designed chemicals to help destroy cancer cells.

Dr. Nyokong has dedicated much of her career to scientific research and education, inspiring young people—especially women—to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Her achievements have earned her numerous national and international awards and recognition.

Through her work, Dr. Nyokong has demonstrated how scientific research can contribute to improving healthcare and solving real-world problems. She is an important role model for African scientists and women in STEM.


Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim is an epidemiologist and public health scientist who has made significant contributions to H...
10/02/2026

Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim is an epidemiologist and public health scientist who has made significant contributions to HIV/AIDS research and prevention.

She is widely recognized for her work on HIV, particularly among women and young people in Africa. Dr. Abdool Karim has been closely associated with the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), where she has contributed to important research on HIV prevention and treatment.

One of her major areas of research has been understanding why young women in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. Her research has helped improve HIV prevention strategies, including the use of antiretroviral medicines to reduce the risk of infection. She has also worked to strengthen public health research and develop solutions that respond to the needs of communities affected by HIV.

Young women are learning to question, create, and build, becoming a generation of thinkers and builders ready to shape t...
09/30/2026

Young women are learning to question, create, and build, becoming a generation of thinkers and builders ready to shape the solutions their communities need most.

Same Mantra: Building skills, confidence, and careers.
09/22/2026

Same Mantra: Building skills, confidence, and careers.






We promote hands-on learning to empower our girls to become active participants and creators in S.T.E.M., rather than pa...
09/16/2026

We promote hands-on learning to empower our girls to become active participants and creators in S.T.E.M., rather than passive users.

From the University of Ghana to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, from the University of Mines and Tec...
09/10/2026

From the University of Ghana to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, from the University of Mines and Technology to Ashesi and the Technical Universities in Ghana, ARA-W targets and empowers young, underserved girls through innovative and sustainable, future-focused learning.









ARA-W engages students in experiments that build scalable skills, empower them to create jobs, and incubate micro-indust...
09/08/2026

ARA-W engages students in experiments that build scalable skills, empower them to create jobs, and incubate micro-industries.






Nurturing our young girls to be able to run with whatever vision they have.
09/07/2026

Nurturing our young girls to be able to run with whatever vision they have.





Through our Undergraduate Research Fellowship, our girls receive training that empowers them to think creatively, develo...
09/01/2026

Through our Undergraduate Research Fellowship, our girls receive training that empowers them to think creatively, develop innovative solutions, and confidently turn their ideas into action.

Tag a STEM girl you know and stay tuned. 😉










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7441 Blue Gable Road
Nashville, TN
37076

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