UWC's Priscilla Baker honoured with prestigious L'Oréal–UNESCO award
Professor Priscilla Baker of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.
Image: Supplied
Professor of analytical chemistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Priscilla Baker, is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.
These researchers will be recognised for their contributions to physical sciences, mathematics and computer science at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) headquarters in Paris, on June 12.
Professor Baker was honoured for her contribution in the field of electrochemical microsensors for detecting contaminants in the environment, with applications in pharmaceuticals, food, health and energy.
According to a statement, her dedication as a mentor in analytical electrochemistry has empowered students and early-career scientists to undertake innovative research projects in this field.
She was named as the winner, also referred to as the laureate, for Africa and the Arab states.
Growing up in Bellville South, Baker said she sometimes went to her old high school to motivate learners.
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She graduated with a BSc in Physical Oceanography from the University of Cape Town in 1990.
'The practical component of oceanography required long periods at sea, but the boats were not equipped for women, and the crew were not ready to accept a person of colour as a professional," she said.
She then shifted to analytical chemistry, excelling under the mentorship of Professor Andrew Crouch and later earned her PhD in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University.
Professor Priscilla Baker of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.
Image: Supplied
"By actively sharing my journey, I have become a tangible example for female students to explore careers based on capability, not stereotypes," she said.
Professor Baker is also the co-director of the SensorLab research group at UWC with Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha.
The laureates were selected from a pool of 466 nominees and were announced on May 26.
'By celebrating the 2025 Laureates and each new generation of female researchers, we move closer to a world where the contributions of women are fully valued in every scientific field, and where we all benefit from their achievements,' said Lidia Brito, assistant director-general for Natural Sciences at UNESCO.
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IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
UWC's Priscilla Baker honoured with prestigious L'Oréal–UNESCO award
Professor Priscilla Baker of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. Image: Supplied Professor of analytical chemistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Priscilla Baker, is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. These researchers will be recognised for their contributions to physical sciences, mathematics and computer science at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) headquarters in Paris, on June 12. Professor Baker was honoured for her contribution in the field of electrochemical microsensors for detecting contaminants in the environment, with applications in pharmaceuticals, food, health and energy. According to a statement, her dedication as a mentor in analytical electrochemistry has empowered students and early-career scientists to undertake innovative research projects in this field. She was named as the winner, also referred to as the laureate, for Africa and the Arab states. Growing up in Bellville South, Baker said she sometimes went to her old high school to motivate learners. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading She graduated with a BSc in Physical Oceanography from the University of Cape Town in 1990. 'The practical component of oceanography required long periods at sea, but the boats were not equipped for women, and the crew were not ready to accept a person of colour as a professional," she said. She then shifted to analytical chemistry, excelling under the mentorship of Professor Andrew Crouch and later earned her PhD in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University. Professor Priscilla Baker of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. Image: Supplied "By actively sharing my journey, I have become a tangible example for female students to explore careers based on capability, not stereotypes," she said. Professor Baker is also the co-director of the SensorLab research group at UWC with Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha. The laureates were selected from a pool of 466 nominees and were announced on May 26. 'By celebrating the 2025 Laureates and each new generation of female researchers, we move closer to a world where the contributions of women are fully valued in every scientific field, and where we all benefit from their achievements,' said Lidia Brito, assistant director-general for Natural Sciences at UNESCO. Cape Argus
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Prof Priscilla Baker: a trailblazer in science and the 2025 L'Oréal-UNESCO laureate
Prof Priscilla Baker's groundbreaking career has earned her the top global recognition as the 2025 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate, for Africa and the Arab States. Image: UWC University of the Western Cape Analytical Chemistry Prof Priscilla Baker's groundbreaking career has earned her the top global recognition as the 2025 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate, for Africa and the Arab States. In a world where healthcare disparities persist and women remain underrepresented in science, Prof Baker is breaking barriers with her pioneering research in wearable electrochemical sensors while advocating for greater inclusivity in STEM fields. Growing up in Bellville South, Prof Baker said that, until recently, she would still go back to her old high school to motivate learners. Like many high schoolers in the mid-1980s, under PW Botha's State of Emergency, her schooling was also disrupted as she started matric in 1986. However, Prof Baker's path to scientific leadership was fraught with obstacles. In 1990, she became the first woman of colour to graduate with a BSc in Physical Oceanography from the University of Cape Town. Still, systemic discrimination barred her from pursuing honours in the field. 'The practical component of oceanography required long periods at sea, but the boats weren't equipped for women, and the crew were not ready to accept a person of colour as a professional," she recalled. Undeterred, she shifted to analytical chemistry, excelling under the mentorship of Prof Andrew Crouch and later earning her PhD in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University. This experience profoundly shaped her commitment to mentorship. "By actively sharing my journey, I've become a tangible example for female students to explore careers based on capability, not stereotypes," she said. Prof Baker with her Gold Medal prize from the South African Chemical Institute (1996). Prof Baker, the co-director of the SensorLab research group at UWC with Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha, is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge electrochemical sensors capable of detecting health biomarkers and environmental contaminants. These devices could revolutionise healthcare, particularly in underserved regions like rural Africa, by enabling early detection and continuous monitoring of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. "Most current medical interventions are designed for ex post facto implementation," Prof Baker explained. "The major shortcoming of modern medicine lies in the absence of continuous monitoring tools to inform medical practitioners of the early onset and progression of a disease." With recent investment from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to establish an Electrochemical Sensors Node at UWC's NanoMicro Manufacturing Facility (NMMF), Prof Baker's team is now positioned to print and test these sensors on flexible substrates under real-life conditions. "We are bridging a crucial gap in healthcare knowledge and implementation," she explained. Prof Baker's work spans health, energy, and environmental sectors, with international collaborations accelerating innovation. A long-standing partnership with CY Paris University has led to joint research, student exchanges, and co-authored publications. "Collaborative research sharpens our skills and pushes us to think beyond our comfort zones." One of her most exciting projects, a biosensor for detecting uric acid in gout patients, has evolved into a potential global solution. Initially addressing gout prevalence in rural South Africa, the project now explores embedding sensors in shoe insoles for continuous biomarker monitoring, with partnerships forming between medical institutions and tech developers. While Prof Baker acknowledged progress for women in electrochemistry, she highlights systemic challenges. "Women often remain primary caregivers, facing career interruptions due to maternity leave and family demands - factors rarely accounted for in promotions," she noted. Her advice to institutions? "Surround yourself with leaders who embody excellence, kindness and fairness. We must create spaces where all can thrive." As Prof Baker continues to innovate in sensor technology and advocate for inclusivity, her work stands as a testament to resilience, collaboration, and the transformative power of science.
TimesLIVE
28-05-2025
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How dried-out wetlands on the Iran/Iraq border threaten the region
The dust storms that have choked Iranians and Iraqis for weeks and hospitalised thousands are the canary in the coal mine for a complex environmental disaster unfolding in wetlands straddling the two countries' border. The Hoor al-Hawizeh wetlands, north of the southern Iraqi city of Basra, are drying out and experts warn continued decline, including in the connected Hoor al-Azim marshes in Iran, could drive water shortages, migration and conflict. 'These marshes once acted as natural barriers, trapping fine sediments and maintaining soil moisture,' said Hossein Hashemi, an associate professor of water resource engineering at Lund University in Sweden. 'Their shrinkage, caused by upstream dam construction, wartime destruction and climate change, has exposed vast stretches of loose, dry sediment,' he said. 'As winds sweep across these barren areas, they lift large quantities of fine dust, leading to more frequent and intense storms.' The degradation of the wetlands, part of the Mesopotamian Marshes, also threatens unique wildlife, including softshell turtles, birds, fish and water plants. Hoor al-Hawizeh is recognised by Unesco for its biodiversity and cultural heritage, and Iraqi sections are designated wetlands of international importance on the Ramsar List, the world's largest list of protected areas. On the Iran side, Hoor al-Azim is a crucial source of food, water, jobs and tourism to millions of people in the southwestern Khuzestan province, but now it is under threat. 'This brings with it the issue of forced migration, displacement, conflict, poverty, unemployment, hunger and more,' said Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and a former deputy head of Iran's department of environment. Data from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran shows that since the early 1970s, Hoor al-Azim has declined from about 124,000ha to 60,650ha. That means nearly half of its original area, including water and reed beds, has disappeared, mainly, scientists say, because of oil exploration, farming, dam building and climate change. 'The degradation has contributed to the displacement of local communities, increased poverty and reduced agricultural productivity,' said Ali Torabi Haghighi, associate professor of water resource management at the University of Oulu in Finland. 'It has led to severe biodiversity loss, particularly among migratory bird species, native fish populations and other aquatic and semi-aquatic life,' he added. In July 2021, one of the largest waves of nationwide protests began in Khuzestan over drought and water shortages. Security forces killed dozens and thousands were arrested, according to the human rights group, Amnesty International. Those same stresses persist today with temperatures exceeding 55°C in the summer and drought again stalking the land. In May, about a thousand people were hospitalised in Khuzestan each day with heart and respiratory illnesses from sand and dust storms. Madani said urgent action was needed, not least to prevent political tensions flaring with countries accusing each other of not releasing enough water into the wetlands. Wildfires worsen the pollution. In early May, thousands of hectares of Hoor al-Azim caught fire, local media said. Earlier this year, smoke and pollution from fires on the Iraqi side of the wetlands engulfed villages in Khuzestan, forcing schools and offices to shut for days. 'As the marshes lose water, the once-lush vegetation turns into dry, flammable tinder, making the region highly susceptible to wildfires, whether ignited by natural causes, human activity or deliberate burning,' said Hashemi. 'Given the shared ecosystem, a fire on one side [of the border] directly affects the other, highlighting the need for bilateral co-operation in fire prevention, wetland restoration and air pollution control,' he said. As well as climate effects, human activities are degrading the marshes. About 80% of Iran's oil production is in Khuzestan and a 2021 study found that since the early 2000s, oil exploration projects have caused 'significant damage'. Hamidreza Khodabakhshi, a water planning expert and environmental activist in Khuzestan, said oil exploration had caused parts of the wetlands to dry up. 'Road construction and pipeline installation have not only damaged the ecosystem but also blocked the natural flow of water,' he said. In February, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad told a meeting in Ahvaz, the main city in Khuzestan, that the government took responsibility. 'We are the ones who dried up the wetland and we are the ones who hurt the people of Khuzestan — now we need to prioritise the employment needs of locals,' he said. The Hoor al-Hawizeh marshes are fed by water from the Tigris River in Iraq and the Karkheh River in southwest Iran — sources that have sometimes become a point of conflict. Iran, Iraq and Turkey have constructed dams upstream that scientists say have significantly harmed Hoor al-Hawizeh. Since 2009, the marsh has also been effectively divided by a 65km dyke built along the border by Iran to keep water in its territory. Haghighi said tensions also flared over water allocation. 'In many cases, maintaining ecological water flows is given lower priority compared with agricultural, hydropower and municipal uses, resulting in severe consequences for wetland health,' he said. Scientists hope to raise the case of Hoor al-Azim at the next meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Zimbabwe in July. 'Sand and dust storms and wildfires are examples of the complex problems that are going to require complex solutions through diplomacy and co-operation,' Madani said. Thomson Reuters Foundation
