Climate change, sustainable energy, affordable healthcare, and security, among other issues, are challenges science aims to resolve. Science is a big part in securing the win we needed; the more people—men and women—involve in it, the better.
Today, women account for only 30 percent of the world’s researchers, and with even lower percentages at higher decision-making levels. In a bid to increase the number of women in scientific research, L’Oreal Corporate Foundation and UNESCO established For Women in Science, a program that highlights and encourages women’s participation in science.
Since its establishment in 1998, it has recognized women whose research and achievements contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge. More than 3,100 women scientists have been acknowledged in 53 national and regional fellowship programs established in 117 countries.
Following great efforts made in helping and rebuilding communities ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan, L’Oreal-UNESCO has announced the reintroduction of the program in the Philippines with a new plan to help better empower female scientists.
L’Oreal-UNESCO recognizes women around the world with Pillar of Awards.
The L’Oreal-UNESCO Laureates or International Awards is the most prestigious award given to five women researchers, one from each of the five regions, namely Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
The five women scientists to be recognized this year are the following: Heather Zar (Africa and the Arab States) for establishing a cutting-edge research program in pneumonia, tuberculosis, and asthma, saving the lives of many children worldwide; Mee-mann Chang (Asia and the Pacific) for her pioneering work on fossil records leading to insights on how aquatic vertebrates adapted to live on land; Dame Caroline Dean (Europe) for her groundbreaking research on how plants adapt to their surroundings and climate change, leading to new ways of crop improvement; Amy Austin (Latin America) for her remarkable contributions to understanding terrestrial ecosystem ecology in natural and human-modified landscapes; and Janet Rossant (North America) for her outstanding research that helped better understand how tissues and organs are formed in the developing embryo.
The International Rising Talents award serves to encourage women scientists working in sciences at doctoral and post-doctoral levels. The National Fellowships, on the other hand, helps researchers pursue their scientific careers in their respective home country.
The new addition, For Girls in Science, is a campaign created in several countries to inspire the next generation of girls about pursuing a scientific career.