Beatriz Barbuy (Brasil), Athene M.Donald (United Kingdom), Akiko Kobayashi (Japan), Eugenia Kumacheva (Russia/Canada) et Tebello Nyokong (South Africa) are the Laureates of the L’ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards For Women in Science 2009.

Tabello Nyokong (South Africa).

For over ten years, awards of US$ 100 000 each, reward annually five outstanding women scientists from different regions of the world. They alternate yearly between life sciences and physical sciences, recognizing work that addresses major challenges in modern science. This year's awards in physical sciences bring to 57 the number of women recognized to date.

Akiko Kobayashi (Japan) and Athene M. Donald, United Kingdom.

The 2009 International Jury, presided by Ahmed Zewail, 1999 laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, numbers 17 leading members of the international scientific community. Professor Christian de Duve, laureate of the 1974 Nobel Prize in Medicine, is the Founding President of the Awards and Koïchiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, is Honorary President.

Beatriz Barbuy (Brasil) and Eugenia Kumacheva (Russia/Canada).

The L'Oréal-UNESCO partnership also includes a Fellowship programme allowing post-doctoral students to pursue research in a host laboratory outside their country of origin. The L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has to date granted 120 International Fellowships and 340 National Fellowships to female doctoral and postdoctoral students. Worth up to US$40,000 over two years, they are attributed to 15 young women, three from each of the following parts of the world: Africa & the Arab States; Asia-Pacific; North America; Europe; and Latin America.

Photos © Micheline Pelletier/Abacapress

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