Women Of Biobanking: Changing Faces, Changing Futures

When it comes to solving our biggest challenges, biobanks matter. They can help study, preserve and protect our biodiversity – and also help us learn to manage diseases and genetic abnormalities in humans, livestock and more. But for that to happen, we’ll need every man – and woman – to lend a hand. 

“For far too many years, women were marginalised from the scientific conversation – women were not encouraged to study science, they struggled to get appointed in professional positions and they were paid less than men in the same position,” says Dr Mudzuli Mavhunga, Acting Lead of the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA) and Curator of the SANBI Indigenous Plant DNA Biobank. “Despite this, women still managed to make great contributions to science – but imagine how many more great contributions are out there just waiting for the right woman for the job.”

The biobanks that are participating in the BBSA are staffed by women who are biotechnologists, veterinary scientists or technologists, microbiologists, crop scientists or botanists. Women who work with fungi, plants or bacteria, or rhinos. 

“Biodiversity biobanking is a young science, with a lot of growth potential,” says Dr Mavhunga notes. “That’s why it’s important to celebrate women in science today – and inspire the next generation to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.”

So today, as we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate just a few of the many amazing young women who have played a role in making the BBSA what it is today.

Young women like…

 

Mpho Mohlakoana: A Plant For Every Problem

SANBI’s Indigenous Plant DNA Biobank has a lot on its plate – there are over 22 000 indigenous plant species, many of them endemic, and many of them not very well understood at all. And that’s a shame, because there’s a lot of potential in that biodiversity. Luckily, research intern – and plant enthusiast – Mpho Mohlakoana is here to help. 

With an MSc in Botany and Biochemistry from the University of Johannesburg (with a Specialization in Ethnobotany and phytochemistry), Mpho has been a tutor, a lab demonstrator, a research assistant, and more – and ultimately, she hopes to start a phytopharmaceutical company and travel the world doing research on plant pharmaceuticals. It’s all driven by one thing: a passionate belief in the power of plants – and people. 

“Millions of people use aspirin every day to help with pain and inflammation and the like. And the active ingredient in that aspirin – salicylic acid – was first discovered in willow trees thousands of years ago. Since then, we’ve found tons of important chemicals in plants that have changed our lives. And the more we know, the more we find. We could almost say that there’s a plant for every ailment – so we’d better take care of them.” 

Want to know what Mpho thinks about biobanking, life and everything? Find out here.

 

Chelsey Arries: Broadening Biotechnology Horizons

Chelsey Arries is an intern at the Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), one of the leading research units at the University of the Western Cape, and a global competitor in microbial biotechnology and metagenomics. Working in the IMBM biobank allowed her to expand her skills as a scientist; something she’s pursued throughout her studies at UWC, where she received her MSc in Biotechnology in 2023.

Why biotechnology? Well, fun fact: There are more microbes in a few grams of soil than there are people on the entire planet. Bacteria, archaea and other microorganisms – and viruses – come in a bewildering diversity of shapes, strains and species, live in a wide range of environments, and may hold secrets that could vastly improve our lives, if we only knew more about them. 

“I think it’s really cool what the biobank has set out to achieve: creating a collection of microbes which possibly produce bioactive, pharmaceutically and industrially relevant compounds,” she remarks. “In a world where renewable sources for chemicals are sought after in a number of industries, I think it helps put South Africa on the map, and also contributes to science in a massive way.”

Find out more about Chelsea and other young researchers at the IMBM here.

 

Rekha Sathyan: Filling In Life’s Gaps

Biobanks are essential to preserving South Africa’s vast biodiversity heritage. But to get the most out of them, we need to know what’s in them – and what isn’t. That’s a lot of work, and it calls for some serious dedication. That’s why the BBSA turned to postdoctoral researcher Rekha Sathyan for a helping hand.

“My love for nature started during my school days,” she says. “I always wanted to learn more about nature because I’m fascinated by the incredible way it works. It’s been an amazing journey, and there’s still a lot to learn.”

Rekha earned a BSc Honours, a Master’s degree, a PhD, and then two postdoctoral fellowships, all at the University of the Western Cape. And in her time as a postdoctoral researcher on the Biodiversity Biobanks Gap Analysis & Expansion Project, Rekha helped to ensure that biodiversity biobanks have appropriate holdings that would allow them to address big issues like food security, conservation, economic development, health, research and capacity development.

“I was once told that opportunities are rare, so when you’re fortunate enough to get that one chance, you must give it your absolute best,” she says. “So I always strive for self-improvement; I’ve developed an unquenchable thirst for learning.

Read more about what Rekha has to say about life at the BBSA here.

 

Women of Biobanking: Share Your Story

Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are biobanks on university campuses, in dedicated research facilities and even at national parks, staffed by young women who are biotechnologists, veterinary scientists or technologists, microbiologists, crop scientists, botanists and more.

So…did we miss anyone?Are there more women in science we should be celebrating? Of course there are! 

If there’s anyone you think should be on our list, just let us Contact Us – or engage with us on Facebook @BioBankSA, on Twitter @BioBankSA, or on LinkedIn: Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa. 

And if you’d like to learn more about the legendary women who made biobanking possible – check out Women of Biobanking: Science Heroines Who Changed The World.