It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Senamile Masango, a member of the CERN Alumni Network. A pioneering South African nuclear scientist, entrepreneur and advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, she dedicated her life to advancing science and empowering women in STEM. As the founder of the Senamile Masango Foundation, she worked to build a brighter future for Africa, ensuring that no one was left behind in the pursuit of knowledge and opportunity.
Hailing from a Zulu royal lineage, Senamile began university at the age of 16. During her master’s studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa, she came to CERN in 2017 as the only female member of an African-led team that conducted an experiment at ISOLDE to investigate the isotope selenium 70. She graduated with a master’s degree cum laude in nuclear physics from UWC, based on work done at TRIUMF, the Canadian National Facility for Nuclear and Particle Physics.
She was named one of the 50 Global Inspirational Women of 2020, was a Women in Tech Global Awards finalist in 2021 and was a recipient of the International Women in Science Award in 2022.
Senamile was a strong supporter of the CERN Alumni Network, recognising the importance of global scientific collaboration and mentorship. She was a keynote speaker at CERN Alumni Third Collisions in 2024, with an inspiring talk entitled “Changing the World Through Science by Taking Science to the Community,” which deeply resonated with the audience, reflecting her passion for making science accessible to all.
Our thoughts go out to Senamile’s family, friends and colleagues.
The CERN Alumni Relations Team