The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program awarded five women scientists from around the world with the 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards in the physical sciences. The award ceremony took place on March 28 at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. Professor Deborah S. Jin, fellow of JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado, NIST fellow and physicist professor adjoint physics department, University of Colorado, was named the 2013 Laureate for North America, for her work in ultracold gases of fermions.
Since its inception, L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science has honored 77 Laureates, including two who subsequently were awarded the Nobel Prize, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn and Professor Ada Yonath. The program has also supported more than 1,652 fellows who have made contributions in every field of scientific research. By the end of 2013, a total of 1,729 women scientists from over 100 countries will have benefited from the program.
Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L'Oréal stated, "This program was born of a convergence between the crucial role of science at L'Oreal and the pressing need to increase the number of women holding key research posts around the world. By supporting eminent women researchers on all continents, the program is contributing to changing mindsets and fighting prejudice."
Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, remarked, "This program embodies UNESCO's founding principles. It is based on the idea that science has no gender and no frontiers; that scientific knowledge must be shared; that the curiosity of all girls and boys must be nurtured and encouraged as much as possible for the benefit of all."
Deborah Jin is a renowned physicist whose research has the potential to transform society, having been the first to cool down molecules so that she can observe chemical reactions in slow motion. Professor Jin's research helps further the understanding of molecular processes, which have tremendous relevance for medicine and new energy sources.
The other Laureates recognized for their scientific achievements are:
- Africa and Arab State—Professor Francisca Nneka Okeke, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Nigeria)
- Asia/Pacific—Professor Reiko Kuroda, Tokyo University of Science (Japan)
- Europe—Professor Pratibha Gai, University of York (United Kingdom)
- South America—Professor Marcia Barbosa, Federak University if Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (Brazil)
The 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards jury is made up of 13 eminent members of the international scientific community. The president of the jury is Professor Ahmed Zewail, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1999. Professor Christian de Duve, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1974, is the founding president of the awards; and Irina Bokova, general director of UNESCO, is honorary president.
Each year, the For Women in Science Program highlights scientific excellence and encourages promising talent. In its aim to promote and encourage women throughout their scientific careers, the For Women in Science partnership has also developed a global network of international, regional and national fellowship programs aimed at supporting young women who represent the future of science.
The 2013 L’Oréal-UNESCO international fellows include: Florencia Linero, Argentina; Kanika Mitra, Bangladesh; Marie Florence Ngo Ngwe, Cameroon; Lina Gallego, Colombia; Ariana Barbera Betancourt, Cuba; Anita Takura, Ghana; Sri Fatmawati, Indonesia; Osnat Penn, Israel; Marina Faiella, Italy; Laure El Chamy, Lebanon; Enkhmaa Davaasambuu, Mongolia; Naima Abattouy, Morocco; Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi, Nigeria; Sahwa Adil Nourein, Sudan; Allison Louthan, USA; and Devi Stuart-Fox, Australia.
