SNU Pulse: Congratulations on the African Academy of Sciences Research Award. What does this recognition mean to you personally?
Prof. Shire: When a Somali woman scientist receives international recognition, it sends a message to every young Somali girl watching that science is a path genuinely open to her. That ripple effect is the part that truly matters to me.
SNU Pulse: Tell us about the research that earned you this award.
Prof. Shire: My research focuses on stunting and micronutrient deficiency in Somali children under five. We surveyed over 6,000 households across five regions. Stunting rates in some areas exceeded 40 percent – far above the international emergency threshold. We then tested a community-based nutrition intervention that achieved a 23 percent reduction in acute malnutrition over 18 months. Those are real children whose developmental trajectories were changed.
SNU Pulse: What obstacles have you faced as a woman in Somali academia?
Prof. Shire: Early in my career I was sometimes not taken seriously. There were fewer women in senior academic roles who could mentor me. Fieldwork in remote areas required additional planning and courage. But I made a deliberate decision early on not to internalise other people’s limitations as my own. That decision has served me well.
SNU Pulse: What advice would you give young Somali women considering science?
Prof. Shire: Three things. Find your research question in the problems you see around you. Build your network intentionally and early. And do not wait for permission – the moment is now. Somalia needs its women scientists. Take up the space. It is yours.
Prof. Faadumo Shire holds a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.