The L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO are proud to announce the five 2023 laureates of the International “For Women in Science” Awards. On June 15, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO will honor these distinguished women scientists from five major regions of the world with exceptional careers for the contribution to society of their research in the physical, mathematical and computer sciences.
This unique ceremony, which will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, will also be the occasion to celebrate 25 years of the L’Oréal-UNESCO Program “For Women in Science”, which has become famous for recognizing excellence. of researchers at the national, regional and international level.
WINNERS OF THE 25TH EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL L’ORÉAL-UNESCO AWARDS FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
The five 2023 laureates were chosen by an independent jury chaired by Professor Artur Avila, Professor at the Institute of Mathematics of the University of Zurich (Switzerland), extraordinary researcher at the IMPA (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics) in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). ) and winner of the Fields Medal in 2014, for the 25th L’Oréal-UNESCO International Prize “For Women in Science”, in the areas of Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science.
LAUREATE FOR AFRICA AND THE ARAB STATES
Professor Suzana Nunes – Chemistry
Professor of Chemical and Environmental Science and Engineering, Vice Chancellor for Faculty and Academic Affairs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.
Professor Suzana Nunes has been honored for her outstanding work in developing innovative membrane filters for highly efficient chemical separations with a lower carbon footprint. Her research has proven to be especially beneficial to the water, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries in achieving a more sustainable environment.
LAUREATE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Professor Ana María Font – Physics
Professor of Physics, Central University of Venezuela
Professor Ana María Font has been awarded for her important contributions to theoretical particle physics, particularly to the study of String Theory. Her research has delved into the implications of the theory for the structure of matter and quantum gravity, which is also relevant to the description of black holes and the first moments after the big bang.
LAUREATE FOR NORTH AMERICA
Professor Aviv Regev – Bioinformatics
Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research and Early Development at Genentech/Roche, San Francisco.
Professor Aviv Regev has been honored for her pioneering work in applying mathematics and computer science to revolutionize cell biology. Her research enables scientists to discover and characterize the trillions of cells in the body and enhances their ability to decipher and direct the mechanisms that cause disease, in order to develop better diagnostics and therapies.
LAUREATE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Professor Lidia Morawska – Earth and Environmental Sciences
Distinguished Professor, School of Earth and Climate Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and Director of the International Air Quality and Health Laboratory
Professor Lidia Morawska has been awarded for her excellent research in the field of air pollution and its impact on human health and the environment, with a special focus on airborne particles. Her extraordinary dedication and impact have built a bridge from fundamental science to real-world policy and practice to provide clean air for all.
LAUREATE FOR EUROPE
Professor Frances Kirwan – Mathematics
Savilian Professor of Geometry, University of Oxford
Professor Frances Kirwan is recognized for her exceptional work in pure mathematics combining geometry and algebra to develop techniques for understanding the classification of geometric objects. These techniques have been used by theoretical physicists seeking mathematical descriptions of our universe. Her recent work can help scientists extract crucial information from large complex data sets.
25 YEARS TO PROMOTE THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE
For 25 years, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have been working together to promote the role of women in science through the International Awards “For Women in Science” and the Young Talent Programs, putting women scientists in the spotlight and contributing to breaking the glass ceiling in science.
“I gained significant visibility in Canada and internationally thanks to the For Women in Science award, which opened more doors for me in science, engineering and biomedical research,” explains Professor Molly Shoichet from Canada, International Laureate for North America in 2015.
For young scientists, getting recognition from the Young Talent program is often decisive, as it encourages them to continue their career path: “I was thinking of leaving science. This award changed my life. Now I am thriving as a woman in science and I am very grateful for this support.”explains Dr. Mónica López Hidalgo (Mexico), winner of the Young Talents Award in 2017.
It also allows them to gain self-confidence and leadership skills: “This award came at a key moment in my life that allowed me to have confidence in myself and continue in the world of research” reports Dr. Lucie Barblu-Levast (France), laureate of the Young Talents Award in 2018.
PROMOTE THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN SCIENTISTS
In the late 1990s, women represented 27% of researchers worldwide. In 2014, this percentage increased to 30%, and today, one in three researchers is a woman (33%)[1]. Although the number of women pursuing scientific careers is gradually increasing, in the field of research this progress is very insufficient. Furthermore, the glass ceiling remains a reality: only 18% of senior scientific positions are held by women in Europe, and only 12% of the members of national science academies worldwide are women. Meanwhile, less than 4% of the Nobel Prizes in natural sciences have been awarded to women.
Alexandra Palt, Executive Director of the L’Oréal Foundation notes that: “In the time of a generation, the For Women in Science program has helped create a true transformation by raising the profile of women representing all continents and breaking new ground in all disciplines. However, while we are aware of the progress made, we remain determined, as the task remains important. The presence of women in science and, in particular, in positions of responsibility, is still too low due to gender inequality and the discrimination they still have to face. We cannot encourage young women to guide their path towards a scientific career without the guarantee that they will be able to develop freely and in complete safety in their workplace. Our most important mission is to promote, sensitize and support female researchers, so that they can fully contribute to solving the great challenges of our time and inspire future generations”.
For Xing Qu, Deputy Director General of UNESCO: “These last few years have shown more than ever the importance of science in addressing the serious challenges facing the world today. For science to be effective, it must be able to harness the talents of all of us. UNESCO, as a United Nations agency with a specific mandate for science and which has made gender equality one of its global priorities, is determined to act to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls. . The L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women and Science” Program is a perfect example of a partnership that gives voice and visibility to the extraordinary work and research of many women scientists who are tackling the challenges of our century. The 25th L’Oréal-UNESCO International Awards Ceremony honors talented women who excel in scientific fields critical to the future of all of us.”