5 exceptional women honored for scientific excellence

FIVE outstanding women scientists have been selected as this year’s recipients of the  L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards ceremony on March 18th at the Sorbonne in Paris. Each of these women, and the 15 promising young researcher who will be awarded grants at the same ceremony, prove everyday that women can greatly contribute to scientific progress in a field still largely dominated by men.

 

Well into the 3rd millennium, much progress remains to be made to reach gender balance in science. Only 30% of the world researchers are women and many barriers and obstacles discourage women from entering or pursuing a career in science.

 

Since 1998, the For Women in Science program has honored 2,250 greatly talented women in over 110 countries. Dedicated to both honoring distinguished women scientists and supporting promising young researchers, the L'Oreal-UNESCO program gives five annual Awards and accelerates the careers of 15 exceptional young women chosen among over 230 Fellowships awarded every year all over the world.

 

As the International Year of Light celebrates science and knowledge all over the world, the L'Oreal Foundation and UNESCO will present in the 17th edition of the awards on March 18th. On the morning of the 18th, a press conference will be held at the Saint James Albany Hotel in Paris, where the five Laureates will be introduced and the 15 fellows will each give a 3-minute presentation of their research projects.

 

This week, a unique exhibition celebrating the five outstanding women in science by world-renowned photographer Brigitte Lacombe is expected to be seen by millions of passengers going through the terminals of the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports will discover a unique exhibition of the 5 Laureates by world-renowned photographer Brigitte Lacombe.

 

By traveling the world to meet each of these women, Ms Lacombe has created a series of photographs that capture their inspiring spirit and passion. "Aeroports de Paris has been engaged in supporting women in science since 2005. Each year, we support this cause and offer exceptional visibility to increase public awareness," said Benjamin Perret, Aeroports de Paris' communications director.

 

Changing the world 

 

In the 17th edition of L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards, the five Laureates of the are being honored for their ground-breaking discoveries in the physical sciences. By studying the infinitely large to the infinitely small, they have pushed back the frontiers of knowledge to explain the most fundamental questions of the universe and contribute to solving some of today's greatest challenges. Passionate in life as much as in their work, they are also committed to giving back to their communities and transmitting their love of science.

 

Selected in the five regions of the world by an independent International Awards Jury made up of 12 prominent international scientists who were personally chosen by the President of the Jury and 1999 Nobel Prize winner, Prof. Ahmed Zewail, they represent scientific excellence from the Africa and the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

 

Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli, High Energy Physics and Nuclear Physics, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco  Professor El Moursli is being honored for her key contribution to one of the greatest discoveries in physics: proof of the existence of the Higgs Boson, the particle responsible for the creation of mass in the universe. A "research activist" who also is vice president of the Mohammed V University, she dedicates much of her time to raising the level of scientific research in her country and has been instrumental in improving Moroccan healthcare by creating the 1st master's degree in medical physics.

 

Yi Xie, Inorganic Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China Professor Xie is being honored for her significant contributions to creating new nanomaterials with promising applications in the conversion of heat or sunlight into electricity. Her work will greatly contribute to lessening pollution and boosting energy efficiency, and will open promising prospects for the future. Committed to preserving our planet, she has dedicated her life to finding new and intelligent solutions to address the environmental challenge.

 

Dame Carol Robinson, Physical Chemistry - Mass Spectrometry, University of Oxford, United Kingdom Professor Dame Robinson is being honored for creating a revolutionary method for studying how proteins function, particularly membrane proteins, and establishing a whole new scientific field: gas phase structural biology. Her pioneering work could have a significant impact on medical research. A risk-taker, the British chemist has always done things her way: she left school at 16, passed her PhD at a school for adult learners, took eight years off to raise her children, and became first female professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford in 1999. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2013 for services to science and industry.

 

Thaisa Storchi Bergmann, Physics and Astronomy, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre Brasil  Professor Bergmann is being honored for her work leading to the understanding of supermassive black holes, one of the most enigmatic and complex phenomena of the universe: she was the first researcher to discover that matter could escape from black holes. Passionate and determined, she is convinced that education for all is the key to a better world and, through her work, she hopes to contribute to promoting science as a captivating and fun career path.

 

Molly S. Shoichet, Polymer Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada Dr. Shoichet, a professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, chemistry and biomaterials & biomedical engineering, is being honored for the development of new materials to regenerate damaged nerve tissue and for a new method that can deliver drugs directly to the spinal cord and brain. Her work is putting chemistry at the service of medicine in spectacular new ways. A people person, she also participates in special athletic events for people with spinal cord injuries, is actively involved in human rights issues and has contributed to launching a social media campaign designed to "connect today's research with tomorrow's reality."