​This Women's Month, we again honour Stellenbosch University's female researchers and support staff and the phenomenal work they do. What follows below is a glimpse of some of the excellent research and innovations being produced by SU women in the diverse fields of reproductive health and the well-being of women, the military, and the fight against tuberculosis (TB).

Dr Efua Tembisa Prah of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology in SU's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences explores gender dynamics, identity and cultural dimensions in South Africa to help change the narrative and practices relating to maternal health in the country. She is particularly interested in shedding light on the untold histories of marginalised women in South Africa. “For years, the reproductive health and well-being of women was considered a taboo subject among many communities," Dr Prah explains. “This resulted in poor maternal healthcare services, especially among the most marginalised women in society." By telling these women's stories through an anthropological lens, she hopes to better understand the gender dynamics and other factors that have resulted in South Africa's poor maternal health record. “The stories these women share are powerful records that provide an important archive for others to continue building and infusing with critical analysis," she says.

Sociology and Social Anthropology colleague Prof Lindy Heinecken, in turn, has been researching the military, with a specific focus on personnel issues, for the past 30 years. With the military being a highly masculine institution, gender integration and the challenges and debates associated with incorporating women in the military have been one of her key research focuses. Looking back, Prof Heinecken's research on women in the military has not only shifted gender binaries in the South African National Defence Force, but has also raised awareness and understanding of the tensions that gender integration evokes. “Having more women in the military is not only a right, but also a necessity," Prof Heinecken explains. “They make a unique contribution in addressing the challenges that local women face in areas affected by armed conflict. Women also engage more readily with the local population, as cultural customs often do not allow men to talk to local women. In addition, women have a more conciliatory approach to conflict resolution. Therefore, it is critical to understand the obstacles that affect women's integration with the military and their deployment on peacekeeping missions." 

Over in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Prof Samantha Sampson, a senior researcher in the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, is one of three researchers who have received an award from the United States' National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on therapies to eradicate TB. “The NIH-funded project provides an opportunity to take an innovative and multidisciplinary approach in tackling the enormous public health problem presented by TB," Prof Sampson says. Along with Profs Admire Dube from the University of the Western Cape and Joshua Reineke from South Dakota State University, United States, she will be focusing on using engineered nanoparticles to modulate the response of white blood cells to the TB bacterium. The TB bacterium renders white blood cells less effective when the immune system tries to fight the bacterial infection. The nanoparticles mimic the appearance of the bacterium and appear to induce the killing of the virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is thought that they may be effective in eradicating all forms of TB, including drug-resistant and persistent strains. “On a more personal note, I have enjoyed collaborating with Prof Dube since 2016, so it is great that the NIH has recognised our groundwork and the potential of this research." The five-year award is worth just under R30 million ($1 632 268), and SU will be one of the research sites.

For other #WomenofSU profiles, please click here to be directed to a dedicated webpage featuring a collection of articles, photographs and podcasts on the remarkable undertakings of SU's women.