What if the way we understand shape, space, and structure could help us see disease differently?

In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with South African mathematician Dr. Cerene Rathilal to explore topology, a branch of mathematics that asks what stays the same even when things are stretched, twisted, or transformed, and why those ideas now matter far beyond the chalkboard.

Cerene traces her journey into mathematics, from a childhood shaped by curiosity to the moment she realised that being good at maths was not the same as being told you could become a mathematician. We talk about the quiet ways society steers talented students away from pure mathematics, and what it means to choose a path that is not always visible or celebrated.

The conversation moves from theory to impact, as Cerene explains how topological data analysis is being explored in areas such as breast cancer diagnosis, helping researchers look at medical images and data in entirely new ways. We also discuss why Africa has a growing role to play in advanced mathematical research, and how global scientific spaces can create mobility, collaboration, and confidence for African scholars.

Beyond the mathematics, this episode is about representation, mentorship, and making space. Cerene shares why she founded a programme to support girls pursuing STEM careers in South Africa, and what it takes to turn personal experience into collective opportunity.

This is a conversation about mathematics as a way of seeing, science as a human endeavour, and why abstract ideas often shape the real world more than we realise.