2018 Laureates mark 20th Anniversary of L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO for Women in Science Programme

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March 18, 2018

2018 Laureates mark 20th Anniversary of L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO for Women in Science Programme

L'Oreal UNESCO

Photo: L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO Laureate Prof. Thaisa Storchi Bergmann (by Brigitte Lacombe) on display at Orly Airport, Paris, France. Image provided by and copyright © L’OrÃ©al Foundation / Stephane Cardinale / People Avenue.

L'Oreal UNESCO

Photo: Professor Heather Zar. 2018 Women in Science Laureate. Professor and Chair, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Director SAMRC Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Image provided by and copyright © L’OrÃ©al Foundation | Thierry BouÃ«t.

UNESCO and the L’OrÃ©al Foundation are preparing to honour five exceptional female scientists with the 2018 L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards at a ceremony on 22 March at UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris.

The ceremony will follow a major scientific conference, organized by the L’OrÃ©al Foundation and UNESCO on 21 March. These events will recognize leading women scientists and shine a spotlight on 15 talented young female scientists. They will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the For Women in Science programme.

This year, UNESCO and the L’OrÃ©al Foundation have recognized five exceptional female scientists.

Each of the five laureates will receive a prize of â‚¬100,000 and be honored for her contribution in the fields of medicine, palaeontology, molecular biology, ecology and developmental biology.

Over the last 20 years, the L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has raised the profile of 102 laureates and supported more than 3,000 young female scientists, helping them benefit from increased recognition within the scientific community. Three of these laureates have received science Nobel Prizes.

In order to further promote these women in science, the L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO For Women in Science programme is raising public awareness of their achievements. It has launched an international communications campaign in seven international airports (Paris, New York, Beijing, London, Dubai, Sao Paulo and Johannesburg) and on the streets of Paris, in partnership with JCDecaux and AÃ©roports de Paris.

THE 2018 L’OREAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE LAUREATES

AFRICA AND THE ARAB STATES

Professor Heather ZAR
Professor and Chair, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Director SAMRC Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Professor Mee-Mann CHANG
Professor, Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology.
Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

EUROPE

Professor Dame Caroline DEAN
Professor, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, United Kingdom.

LATIN AMERICA

Professor Amy T. AUSTIN
Professor, IFEVA-CONICET, Facultad de AgronomÃa, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

NORTH AMERICA

Professor Janet ROSSANT
Senior Scientist, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
University Professor, University of Toronto, Canada.
President, Gairdner Foundation, Canada.

THE 2018 L’OREAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL RISING TALENTS

Over the last 20 years, the L’OrÃ©al Foundation and UNESCO have supported 3,022 talented young female scientists through research fellowships. These L’OrÃ©al-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowships are awarded annually at national and regional ceremonies in 117 countries.

National and regional fellowships are awarded to 275 young women scientists each year. Out of these 275, the International Rising Talents programme targets the most promising 15 of these scientists.

The 15 young female talents honoured in 2018 are:

AFRICA AND THE ARAB STATES