Associate wins prestigious STEM Award
When Prof Dephney Mathebula learned she had been named one of the winners of the 2025 Mail & Guardian Power of Women Awards, her reaction was a mix of disbelief, relief, and immense gratitude.
“The moment felt surreal,” she recalls. “It came at a very meaningful time in my career, as I’m in the process of redesigning my mentorship strategies to better support young people in STEM across Africa.”
Prof Mathebula stood out among more than 1000 nominees. The award’s theme, “Celebrating Women Who Turn the Impossible into Unstoppable,” seems tailor-made for her journey – a powerful testament to how she has defied the odds and paved a path not only for herself but for future generations of African scientists.
The Math behind the mission
As a leading voice in Applied Mathematics and Biomathematics, Prof Mathebula’s research sits at the intersection of mathematics, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence. Her work addresses major public health challenges such as malaria, HIV, influenza, and COVID-19 through mathematical modelling and AI-driven analysis.
One of her current projects involves developing intelligent, epidemiology-focused web crawlers, tools that automate the collection and analysis of disease data from online sources. This improves both speed and accuracy, essentials for public health responses, especially in resource-limited settings.
“This kind of innovation can radically shift how we handle disease surveillance in developing countries,” she explains. “We’re combining the power of the internet with data-driven insights to support better decision-making.”
Her published work, including the 2024 study “Quantitative Analysis of Group for Epidemiology Architectural Approach” in the Annals of Data Science, has drawn wide attention for its fresh, interdisciplinary perspective on global health.
Her journey as a woman in STEM
Prof Mathebula expresses that the path hasn’t always been smooth. “As a woman in STEM, you experience constant pressure to prove yourself, not just as a scientist but as someone who belongs. There’s a persistent assumption that you’re only in the room because you’re a woman.”
Yet her achievements speak volumes. Through her groundbreaking research, leadership, and mentorship, Prof Mathebula continues to challenge stereotypes and reshape the narrative about who gets to lead in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
NITheCS extends its heartfelt congratulations to Prof Mathebula-Periola on this well-deserved recognition. We are incredibly proud to be part of her inspiring journey and look forward to seeing the incredible impact she continues to make in advancing STEM excellence across Africa.
