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The partnership between the UN Technology Bank and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) has played a key role in strengthening the Southern African Development Community鈥檚 (SADC) scientific capacity, with thirteen of the sixteen member states now being home to their own established Academies of Sciences. The Lesotho Academy for Science and Technology (LAST), being established in 2022, works hand in hand with the Lesotho Young Academy of Science (LesYAS) towards the development of science, technology and innovation in the youth population within Lesotho.

To truly capture the impact of the Young Academy of Sciences, we invited the following individuals from LesYAS to provide their insights:

Dr Tebello Mahamo (Co-Chair 鈥� Administration of LesYAS, Senior Lecturer at the National University of Lesotho)

Dr Mohau Mateyisi (Co-Chair 鈥� Research of LesYAS, Senior Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Republic of South Africa)

Dr Khahliso Leketa (Member of LesYAS, Project officer at the SADC WaterNet Secretariat, Lesotho)

Dr Malereko Mateyesi (Member of LesYAS, Senior Researcher at the University of South Africa, Republic of South Africa)
 

What is your area of research and how can it contribute to the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II) for Lesotho?

Dr Tebello Mahamo: Green chemistry and catalysis. The key priority areas in the NSDP II encompass, among other areas, the following: manufacturing sector; health sector, nutrition; energy; water, sanitization and hygiene; and solid waste management. Chemistry, being the study of matter, is in a perfect position to contribute positively to the achievement of Lesotho鈥檚 developmental goals in these, and other, areas. 

Dr Mohau Mateyisi: My area of research is climate modelling. It contributes to the evidence base for climate change in the country. 

Dr Khahliso Leketa: My area of research is water resources, specifically groundwater. I am interested in applying tracers (isotope hydrology) to understand the paths of water, interconnectedness of water storage systems and the use of radioactive tracers to assess the age of water as a way of determining the sustainability of water resources in this changing climate setting. My area of research directly contributes to Key Priority Area III, under Water Sanitation and Hygiene. This is because, research on the availability of water resources and their sustainability leads to evidence-based decision making, which ultimately improves access to domestic water, hence improved hygiene from a local scale. Indirectly, my research interests also contribute towards technology and innovation, as we seek other more modern technologies for water resource assessment, and the agricultural sector, since assessing the quantity of available water resources helps to determine water allocations, including for agricultural activities, considering that changes in climate have presented challenges with rainfed agriculture.  

Dr Malereko Mateyesi: My area of research is in Biological Invasions and Conservation Ecology. It contributes evidence base for measures to be undertaken to safeguard ecosystem services and biodiversity locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. 

What role can the Lesotho Youth Academy of Science play in the development of Lesotho and her society?

Dr Tebello Mahamo: Looking at the societies which have been able to achieve (sometimes rapid) development over the past century or so, they have done so relying heavily on scientific and technological advancements. The Academy can therefore contribute towards solutions to national challenges facing our society by providing a platform for young scientists to influence policy decisions, contributing towards the development of scientific capacity in the country through mentoring and role-modeling of future scientists, and fostering opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations amongst young scientists to solve the often multi-faceted problems that Lesotho and her people face.

Dr Mohau Mateyisi: The youth of Lesotho have a potential for the development of innovative climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions in the key sectors of the economy such as trade, and industrial sectors such as agriculture.

Dr Khahliso Leketa: The academy can present great mentorship opportunities, whereby, the senior academy become mentors to the junior academy, while the junior academy also mentor other non-academy members who possess Masters degrees and have aspirations to pursue PhDs. The Academy can participate in dialogues of emerging national topics that require scientific based decision making. In some instances, the academy may be supported with finances to undertake research in areas that are of national interest in order to help find the needed answers. The academy can host science fairs for high school kids.

Dr Malereko Mateyesi: The youth of Lesotho have potential for the development of innovative nature-based solutions against perturbations brought by climate change to key economic sectors such as forestry agriculture.

Why did you join the Lesotho Youth Academy of Science? What role do you think it can play in your professional development and career goals?

Dr Tebello Mahamo: The academy can help in the development of young scientists in Lesotho by bringing together and fostering opportunities for (interdisciplinary) collaborations amongst young scientists (both locally and internationally). Being that career development and continuing research are so intimately linked, and the fact that Lesotho is lacking in research infrastructure and funding, the Academy can assist young Basotho scientists and researchers by facilitating collaborative research opportunities for its members with young (and established) researchers in the region and beyond; specifically when it comes to co-supervision of postgraduate students as we don鈥檛 have many postgraduate programs here. The Academy can also be a space where young scientists can come with their challenges, solutions, etc. to help change the research landscape in Lesotho.     

Dr Mohau Mateyisi: I joined LesYas to contribute to the voices of young professionals on the issues of science and innovation in the country. To deploy my knowledge and skills in bringing scientific evidence that support decisions and policies for sustainable development.

Dr Khahliso Leketa: I believe that LesYas places me in a strategic position to be mentored and inspired to pursue research in my area of specialization. 

Dr Malereko Mateyesi: I joined LesYas to contribute to the voices on climate and sustainability transitions. 

In your opinion, what are the challenges Lesotho is facing in its science and technology development? 

Dr Mohau Mateyisi: Lesotho is facing a significant gap in science and technology skills on account of brain drain and low levels of investment in economic sectors that can retain the needed skills and talents. 

Dr Khahliso Leketa: Innovative techniques are not taught early enough, be it in school or even in graduate level, you find that techniques that are used at undergraduate level are still very analogue. We don鈥檛 run computer models to predict hydrological systems in bachelor鈥檚 degrees. So, such advanced techniques do not form a basic knowledge of a hydrologist for example. It is only those who pursue an MSc who actually study those highly modern techniques, unfortunately soon enough they become managers and never deal with the data and models that they studied, while those with Bachelors only know of analogue systems and therefore, do not cater for the computer models in their data collection and manipulation. Hence, we remain behind. In some cases, the above is a result of lack of infrastructure to teach at undergraduate level in Lesotho while those who pursue MSc are able access such infrastructure in more developed countries where they go for their studies. There is a need for strong collaborations between academia, government and society. Government decisions should be informed by research from the academia. The academia, should be well informed on the national development activities to teach relevant content for emerging graduates. There is seen to be a lack of scientific research; disregard of science, technology and innovation as development drivers, and a lack of a cohesive scientific voice in national discourse. The young academy, in collaboration with the senior academy and other international partners/affilliations can help in strengthening this voice/visibilty. 

Dr Malereko Mateyesi: Lesotho is to strengthen or refine strategies and plans in place to retain and develop the needed skills and talents. 

How can the academy contribute to improve scientific collaboration between academia, government and the private sector in Lesotho? 

Dr Mohau Mateyisi: The academy can create a network of Basotho young professionals across political boundaries and plough back knowledge and skills through collaborative initiatives and projects.

Dr Malereko Mateyesi: The academy has potential to play a critical role in advising young professionals across political boundaries on science, technology and innovation (STI) policy development and implementation to address socio-economic challenges and promote development in Lesotho.

From a regional and continental perspective, as a young scientist in Africa, could you share one or two areas of exciting developments or opportunities you currently see on/for the continent? 

Dr Mohau Mateyisi: I see data science as driven by developments in areas, such as artificial intelligence, as relevant in Africa for all the sectors developments. I also find climate change adaptation innovations to be one area where Africa can contribute to the global efforts.

Dr Khahliso Leketa: Youth empowerment. We have recently seen quite significant interventions that are done for African youth to grow them into leaders despite their specialisations. These include those activities where youth are exposed to other developed countries. However, there is still a need to develop internship programmes for promising scientists from Africa to go to other developed countries for a certain period and work in a lab to sharpen their skills or work with highly advanced researchers. The current global events highlight the importance of food security, so one of the areas ripe for development is agricultural technologies. The continent has abundant land and a young population that can take advantage of this.   

Dr Malereko Mateyesi: Climate change and sustainability transitions.
 

The Academies of Sciences are unique institutions capable of acting as a major interphase between government and civil society and providing authoritative and credible advice on issues related to science and technology to governments. They contribute to both the economy and society in developing national science and technology policy and sustainable development.

The UN Technology Bank and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) have supported the establishment of science academies in Angola, Lesotho, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi.