Awardee speaks about ‘surviving’ as a woman scientist

Dr Caroline Rosemyya Kwawu describes herself as a reserved woman, an introvert who would rather spend her time reading or analysing intricate occurrences than socialising. However, this trait has not held her back.

On the contrary: she was not just the best woman science student at school and university, but also a recipient of the 2024 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Awards.

Although shy, not wanting to draw attention to herself as a child, Kwawu had a curious mind driven by the desire to understand phenomena.

University World News spoke to the computational chemist, a senior lecturer in the department of chemistry at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, about her academic journey and the challenges she faces to be heard and respected as a woman scientist.

UWN: Who is Dr Caroline Rosemyya Kwawu?

CRK: I am the youngest of three children, raised by my mother, Judith Kwawu, and my father, Vincent Salder Kwawu. He was a lawyer and died when I was 15. I consider myself an introvert and prefer to attend events only when necessary. I tend to be reserved and enjoy spending my time reading or analysing complex phenomena rather than socialising. To relax I like to sing and occasionally go out with friends.

From an early age, I was an obedient, focused, and shy child, reluctant to be seen or heard. Over time, I have grown more confident, but my quiet and reflective nature remains a core part of me. My parents encouraged me to pursue a career in law, noting my argumentative and convincing nature. However, I chose an academic path that aligns with my passion for learning and teaching.

I have a bachelor and doctoral degree from the department of chemistry at KNUST. The Royal Society [a fellowship for eminent scientists and the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence] funded my PhD degree. After completing that in November 2017, I became a lecturer in the same department.

UWN: Where did your interest in chemistry come from?

CRK: I have to say I stumbled upon chemistry. The dream was to be an accountant, as I admired my mum in her profession. I helped her, and I loved maths and crunching numbers. However, I did not make the grades for my choice of school and ended up at a different school, Keta Senior High School, studying science. I excelled at science; I was the best female science student and got selected for the STEM training programme there. However, at university, instead of materials engineering I had dreamed of, I was offered my second choice, chemistry, as advised by my big sister.

After obtaining a BSc in chemistry and being the best graduating female, I eventually got funding to pursue further studies in computational materials chemistry, an area dominated by men in the department. I was always present, making sacrifices, knowing that I had to perform at the highest level to move to the next level. I took things one step at a time, and I did not chase too many things at the same time. Looking back, and with my appreciation of chemistry, the thrill of exploration, observation, gathering facts, and rationalising research outcomes, I would choose to be a materials chemist and a researcher all over again. Somehow, my love for materials and my fascination with their unique attributes could only be explained by their intrinsic properties at the atomic level with chemistry. I wake up every morning looking forward to an exciting discovery about materials.

UWN: Please elaborate on the research that led you to the award.

CRK: Climate change impacts developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa the most. Agriculture, a main economic activity, is the least prepared for the impact of climate change. Erratic power supply is a hurdle confronting business and the economy. My research focuses on helping to solve two issues via climate change mitigation and renewable energy utilisation. My group and I are trying to understand and identify new materials that are cheaper and stable to efficiently store energy from the sun. Through the process of electrolysis, these materials help convert carbon dioxide, the main gas responsible for global warming, into long-chain hydrocarbons, liquid fuels, for transportation and electrification.

My research is interdisciplinary and encompasses mathematics, materials chemistry, and programming. It is exciting because it is so versatile. I find it exciting to engage constantly with emerging computational tools and techniques, as they offer endless opportunities for growth and innovation. Developing materials based on abundant metals on Earth like iron will make energy affordable and accessible and will enable Africa to lead in the transition to solar energy and fuels while dealing with the impact of climate change.

UWN: What were your first thoughts after you heard that you had been selected for the award?

CRK: My first thought was ‘validation’. This validation is backed by supporting capacity-building, visibility and recognition in the research space. With all my accomplishments, being recognised by L’Oréal and UNESCO as a Women in Science honouree validates my efforts and contributions the most.

UWN: How important is criticism in research?

CRK: Criticism is feedback and vital to science and research. I believe criticism can be constructive, but sometimes comes from a place of competition. You must discern when to accept and when to reject the criticism. Constructive criticism is people helping you identify the flaws in your work to enhance it. It helps to improve the quality, thereby enriching your contribution, without being personal. It gives you a distinct perspective and helps you to refine your own ideas leading to creativity and innovations. It also gives you an opportunity to re-evaluate and sometimes educate the source of the feedback.

UWN: As a woman in science, what barriers have you faced and how did you overcome them?

CRK: Some barriers are common to many women in the field, while others are unique to my personal journey. The primary challenges include gender biases, balancing work-life responsibilities, imposter syndrome and the constant pressure to prove myself as I regularly feel the need to establish dominance or control to be heard and respected. Luckily for me, I have mentors who are mothers, leaders, researchers and teachers and I consult them when I am unsure. I benefit from their experiences.

UWN What advice would you give to girls, women or to people of minority backgrounds underrepresented in science?

CRK: I could go on endlessly but remember this: your dream is deeply personal – stay focused. Rome was not built in a day, so be patient, discerning, and trust your instincts. Do not believe everything you hear. As a high achiever climbing uphill, failure is inevitable, as are self-doubt, delays and fatigue. But never lose sight of your dream. My experiences have shown me that life is a mix of highs and lows, twists and turns, and plans that often go awry. To succeed, you must be adaptable, make the most of your resources and remain resilient. Your dreams will find you if you persevere.

UWN: How do you maintain a work-life balance?

CRK: It is a constant struggle. I find a balance by not burning myself out. I learned the hard way to be comfortable saying: ‘No’. My work requires critical thinking and is time-consuming, so I rest a lot, and I try now to put my well-being first. You need to be cared for to take care of others, so I listen to my body. I ask for help when it is impossible to be at two or more places at the same time.