Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University student bags global science award

Star student Priscah Omoke.  [Photo/Courtesy]

A student of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology is the Kenyan winner of the L’Oreal-Unesco for Women in Science award.

Priscah Omoke, a 35-year-old PhD student, is among 14 African women scientists and the only mathematician out of more than 300 entrants in the competition. Her research paper was titled Characterisation of Similarity Orbits of Invariant Sub-spaces of Norm-attainable Operators.

According to the mother of two, the result of her research may be useful in the food production and engineering sector.

"The research was all about how theoretical mathematics can be applied in real life situations because it is through science and innovation that we can break through the many challenges we are facing in a sustainable manner," said Ms Omoke.

The 2017 edition of the L'Oreal programme honoured 14 young female scientists from across Africa at a ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 8.

Speaking to The Standard, Omoke, who has seven publications to her name, said the award came as a surprise.

“I knew the award was very competitive. I feel encouraged to be honoured in a global competition."