Academics and thought leaders gathered at the Old Granary Building on Thursday, March 12, to discuss the barriers women face in science and academia, particularly the role language plays in limiting access to knowledge.
The round-table discussion, titled “From Silence to Science: Women, Language, and the Politics of Knowledge,” was hosted by the Society of Spanish Researchers in Southern Africa and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
The discussion followed the opening of an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of the School of Salamanca, titled Fifth Centenary of the School of Salamanca (1526–2026). The exhibition will be on display at the foundation until Saturday, April 11.
The event brought together academics from several local universities to examine the systemic barriers faced by women and historically marginalised groups in science and higher education.
The discussion featured Lauren Powell, from the University of Cape Town, who is a South African archaeologist and digital anthropologist; Professor Mangaka Matoetoe, associate professor at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology's (CPUT) chemistry department; Dr. Rethabile Possa, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town; and Professor Mantoa Motinyane, who is the deputy dean of learning and teaching in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
They discussed the dominance of English and how Western academic norms act as a "gatekeeper," effectively silencing brilliant minds.
Dr Possa spoke about the right to "theorise in one's own language," citing her own groundbreaking project to publish scientific works in Sesotho as proof that African languages are fully capable of conveying complex scientific knowledge.
Dr Powell challenged the historical bias in fields like archaeology, which often misattributed key roles, such as hunting, to men, showcasing that evidence often points to women.
Associate Professor Matoetoe detailed the physical challenges faced by women in laboratory sciences, such as navigating pregnancy policies that force long delays and jeopardise funding.
Professor Motinyane emphasised that dismantling the power structures required more than just inclusion.
"It demands redefining what counts as 'expertise' and ensuring that non-English voices are recognised and valued globally," she said.
Panel facilitator Pedro Álvarez-Mosquera, LinguaSOUTH Chairman for the University of Salamanca, said the collective message was that building a scientific community founded on shared humanity requires multilingualism, cultural inclusivity, and a commitment to ensuring the next generation of women scientists does not have to fight the same battles for visibility.
"The panel concluded with a unified call to action: to democratise knowledge and move science from the confines of the university desk and into the community," he said.
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