Name: Barbara Ojur
Role/Occupation: Master’s student (MPhil Specialising in Space Studies)
Country: South Africa (I have dual citizenship, Uganda and South Africa)
Barbara Ojur is a Master’s student completing an MPhil specialising in Space Studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Ojur is currently building a portable low-cost Software Defined Radio (SDR) ground station to communicate with small satellites in Lower Earth Orbit (LEO).
Ojur did not know what she was getting herself into when she decided to study engineering. She simply took a lucky plunge into the degree based on her love for mathematics and physics and has been grateful for having made the correct decision since. She completed a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UCT and is currently studying towards her Master’s at the same university.
Ojur loves that engineering allows one to be creative, “you get to visualise something and bring it to life. You get to challenge yourself and solve tasks you thought you never could,” she excitedly explains. Her advice to young women aspiring to enter the engineering field is to work hard, to know your trade and to not be afraid of making mistakes or asking questions, “Don’t be complacent and let other people do the work while you look on. Engineering is about doing tasks and you’ll never learn to do anything if you just watch,” she elaborates.
As a woman, with regards to the progress of STEM in Africa, Ojur feels that it’s great to see so many more women getting involved in this field. “It’s also good that companies are making an effort to engage with women. I think we have a long way to go but we’re moving in the right direction,” she states.
Presently, Ojur experiences many eureka moments while working on her Master’s thesis, “being able to overcome challenges and having them propel me forward has shown me that I should not limit my possibilities,” she elaborates.
Ojur has volunteered at WomEng (Women in Engineering), an NGO that engages both working female engineers and young woman interested in joining engineering related fields and at Girl Hype, an NGO that teaches girls to code over the weekends and also provides young girls with help with STEM related courses.
Ojur was also a director at 67 games, a project for Africans to build 67 games for Mandela Day 2016. The project functions as an educational platform. “It’s a platform to show Africans that we need to create our own games instead of always consuming games from others,” she emphasises. She worked on a game that teaches children about their rights, such as the right to go to school and the meaning of being healthy.
As studying involves being sedate for long periods of time, Ojur makes a point of exercising at least five times a week. “It’s important to exercise and give your analytical brain some rest,” she emphasises. She also takes personal time outs and spends time with family and friends. As a model, she is also involved in the fashion industry and this provides another creative release for her.
Read more about Barbara Ojur, a combination of beauty and brains in an interview which push you out of your ‘orbit’ into a new intellectual ‘space'.
Barbara Ojur was interviewed by Dhruti Dheda, the founder of the African Steminist on behalf of Geeky Girl Reality. The full interview can be found here.
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