AWARD
Role-modeling Events

HomeNews & EventsRole-Modeling Events

Welcome to the AWARD Role-modeling Events page, where you can read about how women agricultural scientists are giving back to their communities. Here, we will be posting stories from all 11 countries in which our AWARD Fellows work.

AWARD Fellows practice their leadership skills and share their knowledge within the broader community by organizing a role-modeling event. Such events may take the form of a special university seminar, or an inspiring talk at a secondary school, community workshop, workplace, career fair, farmer’s market, or other similar activity. This sharing increases fellows’ visibility, while encouraging youth to consider science—particularly agriculture research—as a viable career option.

To date, more than 15,500 people (primarily female high school students) have been involved in role-modeling events led by AWARD Fellows.

University Students Get Fresh Perspective on Food Science

Click on the image to open photo gallery. Use the left and right buttons to navigate the gallery

AWARD Fellow Eugenie Kayitesi took the opportunity to influence more than 120 students during a role-modeling event in the food science department at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

A PhD food science student from Rwanda, Kayitesi facilitated a session during the event entitled “food science as a solution to global challenges.” Kayitesi’s AWARD Mentor and University of Pretoria professor, Riette H. L. de Kock, gave an overview of the research work being done within the university’s department of food science to address global and continental issues, including food and nutrient security, nutrition and health, nanotechnology, food processing, and consumer studies. “We talked about the role of food science in some of our everyday food-related problems,” says Kayitesi.