Mathematics Lecturer One of South Africa’s 100 Shining Stars

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Dr Cerene Rathilal, a senior lecturer in the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) School of Agriculture and Science, has been named one of the digital publication Inside Education’s 2025 “100 Shining Stars” at its ninth annual ceremony honouring young South Africans who inspire and uplift others.

Rathilal is a mathematician whose expertise lies in pointfree topology and topological data analysis. Nominated anonymously for the award, Rathilal was praised by Inside Education for her exceptional contributions to mathematics, education, and the advancement of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The event was themed: ‘The Power of Youth Through Education’ and recognised individuals in 12 categories, including education, philanthropy, health, civil society, science and technology, sports, politics and governance, business, arts and culture, environment, transport and tourism, and justice and law.

Recognised in the education category, Rathilal was highlighted as a role model for young women in a male-dominated academic field.

“This is an award, not just for me, but for everyone I work with in STEM, because it recognises our efforts and that we are doing meaningful work for equality in STEM,” said Rathilal.

In 2022, Rathilal founded STEM MentHER, a national mentorship programme now active at eight universities and supporting over 150 female learners pursuing STEM careers. The programme pairs schoolgirls with female academics and professionals to strengthen confidence, foster a sense of belonging, and bridge the gap between school and university. 

Rathilal’s outreach has included leading career festivals, hosting International Day of Mathematics programmes each March, teacher-training initiatives, science communication workshops, and creative initiatives like ‘Math Tales’ and ‘Meet a Mathematician’. She also serves as an international judge for FameLab. 

An alumnus of UKZN, where she completed her postdoctoral studies, Rathilal returned to the University in 2023 after lecturing at the University of Johannesburg. She received her PhD under the supervision of Professor Dharmanand Baboolal and Dr Paranjothi Pillay. She cites Baboolal and Pillay as significant sources of inspiration, particularly Pillay, as the only other female academic in pure mathematics at UKZN.

Rathilal’s accolades include a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, a Canon Collins Scholarship, and recognition as one of the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in 2022.

Rathilal is one of only a handful of women with a PhD in pointfree topology, a field with fewer than 30 practitioners in South Africa, which nonetheless represents the largest concentration of pointfree topologists globally. Working with colleague Dr Simo Mthethwa, she ensures that UKZN trains future topologists, produces high-quality research, and attracts international collaborators to sustain and advance this field.

Topology is a branch of mathematics that studies the fundamental structure of spaces. It formalises concepts such as continuity, connectedness, and proximity without relying on precise distances or coordinates. Pointfree topology, a generalisation of topology, studies ‘space’ by focusing on the regions one can talk about and how they overlap, instead of working with individual points.

Acknowledging that pure mathematics is not a ‘glamorous’ subject, Rathilal is committed to identifying those passionate and capable in this discipline and guiding them to achieve their aspirations.

She hosts topology workshops, including ‘Topology for Tomorrow’ under the auspices of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), using these opportunities to teach the subject and expand its reach.

Rathilal has also taught online courses through the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences and directed the Future Mathematicians Programme, a division of the South African Mathematical Society. 

Highlighting that UNESCO 2024 report that fewer than 30% of STEM jobs are held by women, programmes like STEM MentHER play an important role in introducing more women to these fields and improving these statistics. In 2026, the first group of STEM MentHER participants will graduate.

Words: Christine Cuénod

Photographs: Supplied