Fifteen young women researchers receive UNESCO-L’ORÉAL 2007 International Fellowships for Women in Science

Fifteen young researchers in the life sciences, originating from all five continents, received today at UNESCO Headquarters the UNESCO- L’ORÉAL International Fellowships for Women in Science, Awarded annually since 2000, the fellowships allow post-doctoral students to pursue their research in a host laboratory located outside their country of origin. They are worth a maximum of US$40,000 over two years.

During the 2007 award ceremony, Béatrice Dautresme, Vice President, Corporate Communications and External Relations for L’ORÉAL, and Walter Erdelen, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO, expressed the two partners’ commitment to supporting young women who have chosen scientific vocations.

The 2007 UNESCO-L'ORÉAL FELLOWS are:

Africa:
Christine OUINSAVI (Benin) Forest biology: Study sustainable use of three forest plant species exploited as an important source of revenue by the rural population of Benin.
Host institution: Laval Forest Study Centre, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

Mestawet Taye ASFAW (Ethiopia) Food science: Improve the quality of milk from Ethiopian goats for the production of cheese.
Host institution: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway.
Khady Nani DRAMÉ (Senegal) Plant Biotechnology: Develop drought-tolerant rice species.
Host institution: Africa Rice Center (WARDA), Cotonou, Benin

Latin America – Caribbean:
Laura ECHARTE (Argentina) Crop Physiology: Study effect of complementary maize-soybean cultures on soil conservation in Argentina.
Host institution: Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Canada

Venetia BRIGGS (Belize) Behavioral Ecology: Study signals used by male red-eyed tree frogs to increase their chances of mating.
Host institutions: Boston University, USA, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama

Nancy CHANDIA (Chile) Organic Chemistry: Evaluate pharmacological properties of a South American plant (Stevia rebaudiana) containing a compound used as a natural sweetener.
Host institution: Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

Asia-Pacific:
Fenny DWIVANY (Indonesia) Molecular Biology: Develop alternative method for controlling the ripening of bananas by “silencing” a gene involved in ethylene production.
Host institution: Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia

Barno SULTANOVA (Uzbekistan) Biotechnology: Develop a new type of moist wound dressing for serious wounds and severe burns.
Host institution: Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

Chawanee THONGPANCHANG (Thailand) Medicinal Chemistry: Identify new molecules which can target the enzyme responsible for resistance to malaria drugs.
Host institution: Organic Chemistry Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Arab States:
Rhimou BOUHLAL (Morocco) Marine biology: Develop new treatments active against bacterial, viral or fungal infection after study of pharmacological potential of Moroccan seaweed extracts
Host institution: Laboratory of Biotechnology and Marine Chemistry, University of Southern Brittany, France

Fatima ABBAS (Sudan) Plant molecular biology: Investigate potential of native Sudanese plant, Solanum dubium, as a source of a milk-coagulating enzyme for use in cheese-making.
Host institution: International Center for Chemical Sciences, University of Karachi, Pakistan

Sarrah BEN M’BAREK (Tunisia) Plant Biotechnology: Develop disease control methods for the fungal pathogen, Mycosphaerella graminicola, responsible for septoria leaf blotch disease in wheat.
Host institution: Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Europe-North America
Petra KLEPAC (Croatia) Epidemiology: Develop a general model for the optimal control of epidemics using population dynamics.
Host institution: Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, USA

Irene CHIOLO (Italy) Molecular Biology: Study how disruption in mitosis, cell division process, can be responsible for the onset and progression of cancer.
Host institution: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA

Gisella CRUZ GARCIA (Netherlands) Conservation Biology/Ecology: Improve rice production in North-East Thailand while protecting the value of other plants used by local populations.
Host institution: International Rice Research Institute, Laguna, The Philippines

Launched in 1998, the L’ORÉAL-UNESCO programme “For Women in Science” brings together as partners an intergovernmental organization and a private company in order to create projects aimed at supporting women scientists. To date, more than 350 women researchers worldwide have benefited from the unique programme. Besides the 15 International Fellowships designed to enhance the expertise of post-doctoral students in renowned institutions worldwide, UNESCO and L’ORÉAL recognize annually five outstanding women scientists (one per continent) who represent valuable role models for future generations. The 2007 L’ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science will be presented on 22 February at UNESCO in Paris. In addition, since 2001, more than 200 doctoral students in over 20 countries have received L’ORÉAL National Fellowships, supported by the UNESCO National Commissions.

Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has been dedicated to eliminating all forms of discrimination and promoting equality between men and women. As well as developing educational programmes in science particularly designed for girls, UNESCO has established a series of academic chairs creating networks of women in science around the world

L’ORÉAL is the world leader in the cosmetics industry, developing innovative products to meet the diverse needs of customers in 130 countries worldwide. Nearly 3,000 people work in the Group’s 14 research centers, located in France, Asia and America. Their findings are responsible for the registration of hundreds of patents annually. Women represent 55% of the research workforce – a percentage unmatched anywhere else in the industry.

• Author(s):Press Release N°2007-14
• Source:UNESCOPRESS
• 21-02-2007