NewAfricanWoman Issue 49 - Flipbook - Page 25
FEATURE
— who became the first human to travel into
space — to inspire her further and become fixated
with the field. “I used to look at the picture and
vowed that I too, would one day travel to space,”
she tells us. Maybe one day she will become Africa’s first woman in space.
But in the meantime, her education accolades
keep rolling in. She has since obtained an MSc in
Information System and Data Management; and
is a post-graduate of the United Nations Africa
Regional Centre for Space science and technology education in Nigeria.
As if that was not enough Basuti is also currently
pursuing a Ph.D. in Information Systems and Data
Management through the Botswana International
University of Science and Technology (BIUST).
She states that her passion for Space Science
was sparked further by an interest in knowing
more about unexplained mysteries of things that
happen in space, for example, some causes of
airplane crashes.
She also explains how space technology and
applications are one of many important tools
that can be used to address Africa’s challenges
and can help the continent to achieve the SDGs.
“Information based on these tools can help Africa
improve agricultural yields, manage natural
resources, protect habitat loss, and stop deforestation. Satellite-based data today remains key to
environmental management and fighting climate
change,” she tells us.
While studying for her Post Graduate Diploma in
Space and Atmospheric Science in Nigeria, she
carried out research on the Impact of Geomagnetic Storm (Space Weather) on Satellite Electronic Devices and Navigation Systems. The
research was aimed at finding out why some
satellites crash or disappear in space, with an
unknown failure.
Fast forward to 2023, Basuti is now not only
the Chair of Educational Technologies at Africa
University in Mutare, Zimbabwe (where she is
now based), but she is also a passionate gender
equality advocate who has founded and serves
as CEO of GoToSpace, an initiative which empowers, trains and mentors women, girls and their
communities to take up
STEM subjects and encouraging them to enter
the field of science, including astronomy, which
should not be beyond their reach. Because it isn’t.
Breaking the mould
She also believes that science is a limitless field,
adding that there are various opportunities available globally, and there are many role models,
mentors, and educators who are committed to
empowering others; and showing them what
opportunities lie in the sector, including jobs and
academic scholarships to study further.
“With capacity building and
awareness in Africa, businesses
can spearhead start-ups in the
field of Space Science.
As such, she is passionate about the promotion
of STEM and introducing Space Science school
curriculums, to develop and push more interest in the subject at the grassroots level. “Space
technology and applications, space tourism
and entrepreneurship could be the main space
sectors [and next big thing] that Africa would
benefit most from in the future,” she says.
She notes further that currently, entrepreneurship
is a big field of opportunity in the space sciences
and astronomy fields.
“Because of space capacity building and awareness in Africa, space businesses can spearhead
start-ups in the field of space, [such as] recreational centres; institutions for training and
mentorship, Tele-health and medicine; as well
as Tele-education,” she proffers.
However, despite her mould-breaking work and
passion to make space science more gender
inclusive, it has not been all smooth sailing. She
explains how she has experienced challenges of
sexism in the pursuit of her dream career. But she
has weathered the storm.
“Despite doubts, discouragement, and
other misgivings, including from the
academic world, I have consistently worked
hard throughout my academic journey.
I am proving the naysayers wrong,” she states.
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March 2023 New African Woman
Photography:Shutterstock_AstroStar.jpg
Brainbox student
The 44-year-old comes from humble beginnings and was born and raised in Mathangwane,
a village in the north of Botswana where she did
her early school years. She says her loving and
supportive parents always placed great emphasis on the importance of getting a good education and planted the seed for the passion she has
for education and the career she chose.
But Basuti has always been a smart, A+brainbox
student. She always exhibited great potential from an early age. It, therefore, was not a
surprise that she excelled academically. Neither
was it a surprise that years later, the little girl from
Mathangwane village, would be given a government scholarship to study at a university in the
United Kingdom.
| WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
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