September 11, 2024

Call For Abstracts: RAWISE organises the African Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists 2024 (ACWES 2024) in partnership with INWES and AIMS in Rwanda.

Empowering Women in STEM towards the Sustainable Development of Africa.

November 5-7, 2024
Park Inn by Radisson Kigali,rwanda

Event Overview

Rwandan Association for Women in STEM (RAWISE) is hosting the African Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists (ACWES) on November 5-7, 2024, Park Inn by Radisson Kigali, in partnership with the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) and AIMS in Rwanda (AIMS Rwanda & AIMS RIC).

The conference aims to attract and retain women in STEM, serving as a catalyst for Africa’s sustainable development. ACWES 2024 will focus on empowering women in STEM fields working in industry, NGO, academia, research, etc., fostering gender equality and addressing societal challenges.

The event will be co-hosted by the RAWISE, Africa Regional Network of INWES and AIMS, and aligns with their missions to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.

This two-and-a-half-day (2.5 Days) event will feature workshops, mentoring, seminars, and networking opportunities. It will equip women and girls with skills to pursue STEM careers and support the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The event also aims to amplify women’s voices in STEM leadership, particularly in decision making roles, and foster international collaboration.

Agenda of the Event

Monday, 04th Nov
Tuesday, 05th Nov
Wednesday, 06th Nov
Thursday, 07th Nov

Monday, 04th Nov

PRE-CONFERENCE DAY: MONDAY 04^TH NOVEMBER 2024

KIGALI TIME	SESSION	VENUE: Hotel reception Hall
16.00-19.00	Pre-registration: Register early for the conference	Local organizing team

Tuesday, 05th Nov

CONFERENCE DAY 1: TUESDAY 05^TH NOVEMBER 2024

KIGALI TIME	SESSION	VENUE: Main Hall “Mukombozi”
07.00-9.00	Arrival of the participants & registration: Protocol team/Local organizing team
09.00-09.10	Welcome address and introduction of all dignitaries: Dr Vicky KONDI AKARA and Dr Nelly Adjoa SAKYI-HAGAN	Master of ceremony: Eva Liliane UJENEZA	Session Rapporteur: Local organizing team
09.10-09.40 09.40-09.50	Opening Ceremony: Welcome Remarks from RAWISE President,Dr Marie Chantal CYULINYANA Remarks from ARN President, Mrs Rufina DABO SARR Remarks from AIMS Network President, Prof. Sam YALA Opening Remarks: Hon. Dr Valentine UWAMARIYA,Minister of Environment, Rwanda

09.50-10.00	Group photo
10.00-10.20: MORNING TEA/HEALTH BREAK
10.20-11.00	KEYNOTE SPEECH 1. “The Future of African Women in STEM” by Dr Marie Chantal CYULINYANA (RAWISE, Rwanda) 2. “Championing Change: How Leaders Can Drive Equality and Sponsor Women Experts in STEM?” by Mr William MUTERO (CMU-Africa) 3. “Building Inclusive Ecosystems: Engaging Men as Allies in Advancing Women in STEM” by Prof. Cecil Naphtaly M. OUMA (AIMS-RIC)	Moderator: Local organizing team	Session Rapporteur: Local organizing team

11.00 – 11.05

MOVING AND SETTLING IN PARALLEL SESSION ROOMS (Choose One)

SESSION 11.05 – 12.35	BREAK AWAY SESSION – A Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development	BREAK AWAY SESSION – B Sustainable Systems for Food Security and nutrition
Room Label	Main Hall “Mukombozi”	Room “Homeland”
Moderator	UWITONZE Denyse	MAFIRAKUREVA Prettimore
TIME	AUTHOR & TITLE	AUTHOR & TITLE
11.05-11.20	ID 009 Chemical and mechanical durability of cement matrices containing ashes from waste burning from the Moukondo landfill in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo MBEMBA Kiele Molingo, Congo	ID 004 Ex-post evaluation of fishery management policies on wild fisheries production in northern Cabo Verde: An example of mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus, Carangidae) da CRUZ DELGADO Katelene, Cabo Verde
11.20-11.35	ID 011 Managing humanitarian challenges through chemical and engineering education: A possibility? HANSON Ruby, Ghana	ID 006 Developing strategies for reducing post-harvest losses in tomato produce for improved food, nutrition and income security MAFIRAKUREVA Prettimore, Zimbabwe
11.35-11.50	ID 020 A Cellular Potts Model for the Early Stage Human Embryo Development AFRIFA OPOKU Millicent, Rwanda	ID 094 Lemon grass (Cymbopogon Citrtus) improved antioxidant properties in broiler meats. SIABI Mawuse Adzo, Ghana
11.50-12.05	ID 027 Explainability and Interpretability in Batch learning and incremental learning algorithms for accurate fraud detection UWITONZE Denyse, Rwanda	ID 112 Web model analysis for empowering women farmers against climate change: implication for food security and health OKON Uduakobong, Nigeria
12.05-12.20	ID 044 Air pollution exposure to people involved in economic activities within Kigali city KAYITESI Yvonne, Rwanda	ID 115 Assessment of genetic stability of tissue-cultured leaves and nodal cuttings of tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav.) using ISSR markers CHINAMA RUSIZANA Jeanne d’Arc, Rwanda
12.20-12.35	ID 052 Strategies Using the Photonics Explorer Kit to Aid Pre-service Science Teachers to Develop Scientific Inquiry Skills in Optics JEBUNI-ADANU Cynthia, Ghana
12.35 – 13.30 NETWORKING LUNCH

KIGALI TIME	SESSION	VENUE: Main Hall “Mukombozi”
13.30 – 14.40	Panel Discussion: “Breaking Barriers and Seizing Opportunities: The Journey of Women in STEM” *Questions and answers* Panelists: 1. Dr Jennifer BATAMURIZA 2. Dr Zubeda UKUNDIMANA 3. Dr. K. Noella Josiane UMUHOZA 4. Dr Mary MWANGI 5. Mrs Cynthia JEBUNI-ADANU	Moderator: Dr Vicky KONDI AKARA	Session Rapporteur: Local organizing team

14.40 – 15.00 AFTERNOON/HEALTH BREAK

15.00 – 15.05

MOVING AND SETTLING IN PARALLEL SESSION ROOMS (Choose One)

SESSION 15.05 – 17.00	BREAK AWAY SESSION – A Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development (Continuation)	BREAK AWAY SESSION – B Sustainable Systems for Food Security and nutrition (Continuation)
Room Label	Room “Homeland”	Main Hall “Mukombozi”
Moderator	MAHUGU Joanne	AMPONSAH Afia Sakywiaa
TIME	AUTHOR & TITLE	AUTHOR & TITLE
15.05-15.20	ID 060 Advancing Sustainable Energy Solutions through Solar Power: Empowering Communities with Emerging Technologies in Rwanda UWAYEZU BWIZA Theodosie, Rwanda	ID 126 The Call for Nutrition-Smart Food Systems MAGNE DOMGHO Lea Vicky, Senegal
15.20-15.35	ID 107 Contextual and socio-economic factors affected urban dwellers experiences of and vulnerability to ecosystem disservices SINASSON S. K. Gisele, Benin	ID 037 Prediction of Tomato Yield in the Guinean Zone of Benin Using Machine Learning Models HOUETOHOSSOU S. C. Ariane, Benin
15.35-15.50	ID 124 Self-Supervised Learning for Spontaneous Court Proceeding Transcription TAMIRU Rahel, Ethiopia	ID 023 Physicochemical bases of resistance to Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in local varieties of millet seeds (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) from Benin ALAGBE Taye Obedatou, Benin
15.50-16.05	ID 146 Groundwater storage dynamic in the Lake Chad basin revealed by GRACE and a multi-sensor signal separation approach MUTIMUCYEYE Marie Grace, Rwanda	ID 087 Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Lettuce and Spring Onion on Human Health in Kumasi, Ghana AMPONSAH Afia Sakywiaa, Ghana
16.05-16.20	ID 114 Sustainable floristry network in Africa MUNEZERO Gretta Gaella, Rwanda	ID 019 Maize yield prediction: a machine learning study based on experimental data from Benin TAHI Souand Peace Gloria, Benin
16.20-16.35	ID 096 Adoption of intelligent transport systems for traffic management in developing countries MAHUGU Joanne, Kenya	ID 130 Assessing the impacts of using human excreta as agricultural fertilizers in Burera district MASENGESHO Peace, Rwanda
16.35-16.50	ID 047 Valorization of plastic waste for the construction of energy-efficient and comfortable buildings OSSENI S. Omolola Ghislaine, Benin
16.50-17.05	ID 053 Astronomy for Mental Health: Exploring Cosmic Solutions for Global Wellbeing MDHLULI Joyful, South Africa

Wednesday, 06th Nov

CONFERENCE DAY 2: WEDNESDAY 06^th NOVEMBER 2024

KIGALI TIME	SESSION	VENUE: Main Hall “Mukombozi”
08:30 – 10:00	KEYNOTE SPEECH *“DRIVING TRANSFORMATION* *IN STEM“ 1. “Innovating for* Change in STEM”by Ass. Prof. Ignace GATARE (UR-CST, Rwanda) 2. “Embracing Innovation in STEM Education” by Ms Rita MUTABAZI (Rwanda Polytechnic, Kigali, Rwanda) 3. “The power of Women in STEM networks to influence change” by Dr Sarah PEERS (INWES) 4. “Gender and International Climate Science and Policy Process”, Dr. Pascal LOPEZ (GIZ, Kigali, Rwanda)	Moderator: Dr Mary MWANGI	Session Rapporteur: Local organizing team
10:00 – 10:20 MORNING TEA/HEALTH BREAK

10.20 – 10.25

MOVING AND SETTLING IN PARALLEL SESSION ROOMS (Choose One)

SESSION 10.25 – 12.30	BREAK AWAY SESSION – A Climate science for sustainability	BREAK AWAY SESSION – B Science innovations for better health and wellbeing
Room Label	Main Hall “Mukombozi”	Room “Homeland”
Moderator	IRADUKUNDA Valentine	KOFFI Affoué Benedicte
TIME	AUTHOR & TITLE	AUTHOR & TITLE
10.25-10.40	ID 013 Change in diet when shifting home range to different habitat types: a case study of a mountain gorilla group TUYIPFUKAMIRE Emerance, Rwanda	ID 035 Comparative Analysis of U-Net and MMSegmentation Deep Learning Models for Lung Segmentation in Chest X-Rays IGIHOZO Theophilla, Rwanda
10.40-10.55	ID 049 The impact of human activities on forest degradation in Rwanda NYUMA Kebeh T., Rwanda	ID 065 Fluoride study for sustainable management of drinking water in the Daloa region: central – west Ivory Coast KOFFI Affoué Benedicte, Ivory Coast
10.55-11.10	ID 034 Impacts of Land Use Land Cover and Climate Change on Surface Water Balance Components of Gobele watershed in Wabe Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia IRADUKUNDA Valentine, Ethiopia	ID 131 Investigating the Relationship Between Urban Landscape Patterns and Non-Respiratory diseases Over RUBAVU SAFI Joelle, Rwanda
11.10-11.25	ID 106 Climate forecast and risk assessment UMUHOZA Janet, Rwanda	ID 007 Infectious wound healing potential of green fabricated gold nanoparticles using Icacina oliviformis (false yam) leaf extract DAVIDS Joan, Ghana
11.25-11.40	ID 150 Electrocardiogram Classification for Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis Using Machine and Deep Learning Methods IBRAHIM Omama, Rwanda	ID 151 Unlocking Effective Parenting: AI-Driven Behavioral Analysis for Early Childhood Development UWERIKOWE Irene, Rwanda
11.40-11.55		ID 149 Diabetes risk prediction and selected biochemical parameters in young adult population in Rivers State using Ausdrisk tool IKEWUCHI Catherine C., Nigeria
12.00 – 12.30	POSTER SESSION (Group A)	VENUE : Main Hall “Mukombozi”
12.30 – 13.30 NETWORKING LUNCH

13.30 – 13.35

MOVING AND SETTLING IN PARALLEL SESSION ROOMS (Choose one)

SESSION 13.35 – 15.00	BREAK AWAY SESSION – A Workshop: Leading with Purpose: Gender Inclusive Leadership in STEM for the Next Generation	BREAK AWAY SESSION – B Workshop: Advancing Women in Africa as Leaders in Energy Transition: Needs and Opportunities for Researchers, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs	BREAK AWAY SESSION – C Workshop: Effective Science Communication & Science Communication Strategies
Room Label	Main Hall “Mukombozi”	Room “Homeland”	Room “Hiros”
Session Organizers	Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), University of Rwanda College of Education (UR-CE) and Rwandan Association for Women in Science and Engineering (RAWISE)	African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)	Ruby HANSON & Gisele SINASSON
Session description	This workshop, under the support of Higher Education Pedagogy for Teachers Education (HEP-TED) Project and joint leadership of RP, UR-CE and RAWISE, aims to cultivate leadership qualities among university students, staff and early career professionals in STEM by focusing on inclusivity, teamwork, and strategic thinking. It will set the stage for a new wave of gender inclusive leaders in STEM. By equipping participants with both leadership skills and the mindset to foster inclusivity, the workshop aims to contribute to the broader goal of achieving gender equity and promoting diversity in STEM fields in Rwanda.	This workshop will contribute to AIMS’s participation in the EU gEneSys project, which focuses on exploring how gendered power dynamics shape energy transition efforts. The session aims to identify the specific needs and opportunities for advancing women in Africa as key leaders in the energy transition. It will bring together ACWES24 participants joining the session to discuss strategies for fostering gender equity in the energy sector, promoting women’s involvement, and building supportive ecosystems that empower them to thrive in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the energy transition landscape.	This workshop will expose ACWES participants to the critical role of mentorship, the responsibilities of a mentee, explore various career paths in STEM, and the acquisition of actionable strategies to advance your career. Through interactive activities, discussions, and expert insights, the participants will gain the knowledge and skills to build effective mentoring relationships and navigate their career journey successfully. Join us for an engaging workshop on “Mentorship in STEM & Career Progression Strategies.”
15.00 – 15.20 AFTERNOON/HEALTH BREAK

SESSION 15.20 – 17.00	BREAK AWAY SESSION – A Workshop: Leading with Purpose: Gender Inclusive Leadership in STEM for the Next Generation	BREAK AWAY SESSION – B Workshop: Advancing Women in Africa as Leaders in Energy Transition: Needs and Opportunities for Researchers, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs	BREAK AWAY SESSION – C Workshop: Mentorship in STEM & Career Progression Strategies
Room Label	Main Hall “Mukombozi”	Room “Homeland”	Room “Hiros”
Session Organizers	Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), University of Rwanda College of Education (UR-CE) and Rwandan Association for Women in Science and Engineering (RAWISE)	African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)	Eva Liliane UJENEZA (AIMS, Rwanda)
Session description	This workshop, under the support of Higher Education Pedagogy for Teachers Education (HEP-TED) Project and joint leadership of RP, UR-CE and RAWISE, aims to cultivate leadership qualities among university students, staff and early career professionals in STEM by focusing on inclusivity, teamwork, and strategic thinking. It will set the stage for a new wave of gender inclusive leaders in STEM. By equipping participants with both leadership skills and the mindset to foster inclusivity, the workshop aims to contribute to the broader goal of achieving gender equity and promoting diversity in STEM fields in Rwanda.	This workshop will contribute to AIMS’s participation in the EU gEneSys project, which focuses on exploring how gendered power dynamics shape energy transition efforts. The session aims to identify the specific needs and opportunities for advancing women in Africa as key leaders in the energy transition. It will bring together ACWES24 participants joining the session to discuss strategies for fostering gender equity in the energy sector, promoting women’s involvement, and building supportive ecosystems that empower them to thrive in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the energy transition landscape.	TBS
18.30 – 21.00 CONFERENCE DINNER

Thursday, 07th Nov

CONFERENCE DAY 3: Thursday 07^th November 2024

KIGALI TIME	SESSION	VENUE: Main Hall “Mukombozi”
07.30-08.30	BREAKFAST AND NETWORKING	Master of Ceremony: Local organizing team

08.30 – 09.40	Panel Discussion: “Building Networks Across Africa” *Questions and answers* Panelists: 1. Prof. Okon Aniebat UDUAKOBONG 2. Mrs Rufina DABO SARR 3. Dr. Otieno CARREN 4. Dr Kiele Molingo MBEMBA 5. Mr William MUTERO	Moderator: Local organizing team	Session Rapporteur: Local organizing team
09.40 – 10.00 MORNING TEA/HEALTH BREAK

10.00 – 10.05

MOVING AND SETTLING IN PARALLEL SESSION ROOMS (Choose one)

SESSION 10.05 – 12.05	BREAK AWAY SESSION – A Strategies towards reduction of gender disparity in STEM & Innovations and Entrepreneurship in STEM	BREAK AWAY SESSION – B Discoveries in Fundamental Research
Room Label	Main Hall “Mukombozi”	Room “Homeland”
Moderator	KEBE Amy	KAMGA MATOUKAM Bralyne Vanessa
TIME	AUTHOR & TITLE	AUTHOR & TITLE
10.05-10.20	ID 088 Reversing Gender Disparities in the Energy Transition: Empowering Women in STEM for Africa’s Sustainable and Inclusive Development KEBE Amy, Senegal	ID 012 Relative performance of model selection criteria for Parametric Accelerated Failure Time model based on Kullback’s Symmetric Divergence DETE Houénafa Clarisse, Benin
10.20-10.35	ID 143 Stimulating sustainable entrepreneurial thinking among scientists (SSETS) in African universities for enhanced youth employability MWANGI Mary, Kenya	ID 039 Unveiling the Unknown: Pioneering Insights in Fundamental Research ISHIMWE Gloria, Rwanda
10.35-10.50	ID 123 Mathematics as a catalyst for empowering women in STEM drive Africa’s sustainable development SARPONG ADUSEI Matilda, Ghana	ID 095 Anomaly hunting: search for the unexpected in the largest ever physics dataset KAMGA MATOUKAM Bralyne Vanessa, South Africa
10.50-11.05	ID 141 Closing the gender gap in genome editing is key to Africa’s sustainable agricultural future TOILI Mary Esther M., Kenya	ID 113 Exploration of inflationary universe under fourth order gravity UJENEZA Clemantine, Rwanda
11.05-11.20	ID 054 From Dark Skies to Bright Futures: The Role of Astrotourism in STEM and Entrepreneurship MDHLULI Joyful, South Africa	ID 069 Empowering Girls through Menstrual Hygiene Awareness: A Garagerasmus Foundation Funded Project in Ghana SAKYI-HAGAN Nelly Adjoa, Ghana
11.20-11.35	ID 055 Bridging the Gap: A Comprehensive Mentorship Program for Young African Women in STEM MASEGE Suki, Kenya
11.35 – 12.05	POSTER SESSION (Group B)	VENUE : Main Hall “Mukombozi”
12.05 – 13.00 NETWORKING LUNCH

KIGALI TIME

SESSION

VENUE: Main Hall “Mukombozi”

13:00 – 14.00	Roundtable Discussion: “The Voices of Young Women in STEM”	Moderator: Chanelle M. MATADAH	Session Rapporteur :
14:00 – 14.30	Summary: Conference Co-Chair (TBS-Eva) Farewell: Dr Sarah PEERS, Dr Christine GASINGIZWA Closing Remarks: Mrs. Gemma MANIRARUTA,DG in charge of water and sanitation at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda	Master of Ceremony: Dr Emelyne U. GASANA
14.30 – 15.00 CLOSING AFTERNOON TEA AND NETWORKING
15.00 – 18.00 ARN BOARD MEETING	VENUE: Main Hall “Mukombozi”

ACWES_Programme_Updated-01.11.24 Download

Objectives

● Building Capacity and Expanding Opportunities: Broaden STEM education and career opportunities for young women.
● Mentorship: Offer guidance to young African women in STEM to dismantle gender stereotypes.
● Empowering Voices: Enable young African women in STEM to engage in decision-making on science and engineering issues.
● International Collaboration: Foster global connections to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration.
● Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate the sharing of research findings related to the conference’s sub-themes.
● Strengthened Networks: Expand the INWES Africa Regional Network (ARN) and its impact.

Key Themes and Topics
● Humanitarianism and Engineering
● Science and Engineering Communication
● Gender-responsive Policies, Leadership, and Advocacy
● Emerging Technologies and Innovations
● Sustainable Systems for Food Security and Health
● Discoveries in Fundamental Research

Sub-Themes for Presentation Sessions
● Climate science for sustainability
● Strategies towards reduction of gender disparity in STEM
● Sustainable Systems for Food Security and Nutrition
● Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development
● Innovations and Entrepreneurship in STEM
● Science innovations for better health and wellbeing
● Discoveries in Fundamental Research

Anticipated Outcomes

● Increased Participation: More young women engaged in STEM education and careers across Africa.
● Professional Development: Advanced career prospects through mentorship and support networks.
● Active Engagement: Empower young African women in STEM to participate in discussions and decision-making on science and engineering issues.
● Enhanced Skills: Improved communication, collaboration, and innovation abilities in STEM.
● International Connections: Strengthened partnerships across African and global STEM communities.
● Strengthened INWES ARN: Greater awareness and impact of INWES ARN across Africa.
● Dissemination of Training Materials: Distribution of materials from workshops and seminars to member organizations.
● Policy Recommendations: Propose inclusive, diverse, and equitable STEM environments to attract, retain, and advance women scientists, ensuring their full participation in Africa’s development.

Registration and Abstract Submission

ACWES 2024 welcomes abstracts for 15-minute oral presentations and electronic posters under the following sub-themes: Climate Science for Sustainability, Strategies Towards Reduction of Gender Disparity in STEM, Sustainable Systems for Food Security and Nutrition, Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development, Innovations and Entrepreneurship in STEM, Science Innovations for Better Health and Wellbeing, Discoveries in Fundamental Research.

Submitted abstracts should be:

Original research, not previously published,
Must not exceed 300 words (excluding title, author(s), institutional affiliation, and contact details).
Abstracts should include the following: Title (max 30 words, bold), Relevant sub-theme, Author(s) (presenting author(s) in bold and underlined), Institutional affiliation(s) and city for each author, Summary of the presentation.
The format should be in Times New Roman, font size 12, single-spaced. The official language of the conference is English.

Submit Abstracts

The Scientific Committee will review all abstracts, and notifications of acceptance will be
sent by October 18, 2024. Detailed guidelines for presenting electronic posters will be
provided after acceptance. Selected papers will be published in a suitable journal.
Key Dates:

Abstract Submission

Deadline: October 14, 2024

Notification of Acceptance

Deadline: October 18, 2024

Registration

Deadline: October 31, 2024

Poster/PowerPoint Submission

Deadline:
October 30, 2024

You can find Poster Presentations here categorized by theme:

Travelling to Rwanda? Here’s everything you need to know about the venue, touristic spots, currency, activities and more!

Please Click Here

Registration Fees

Registration fees, received by RAWISE, will cover meals, conference materials, and participation costs.

Registration Fees:

– Standard Fee: $100 (RWF 135,000) per participant
– Discounted Fee for Students and Early-Career Professionals: $50 (RWF 67,500) for those with less than 10 years of experience
– 10% Discount: Available for members of RAWISE, AIMS, or INWES ARN
– Payments: The exact amount and payment mode will be provided to each participant upon registration. For international participants, payments can be via an online link with a credit or debit card. Local participants will be able to pay via bank transfer or mobile money (MoMo), or online via an online link.

Venue and Logistics
Details on the event venue, travel, and accommodation recommendations will be provided closer to the event. A virtual participation option will be available for those unable to attend in person. A Google Map will also be provided for easy navigation.