Dubai, September 30, 2010 The L'Oral-UNESCO Pan Arab Fellowships For Women in Science, launched in partnership with the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), celebrate the phenomenal achievements of the regions women scientists. The 2010 fellowships program was such a huge success - receiving 149 outstanding applications from female scientists L'Oral-UNESCO have expanded the 2011 Pan Arab Fellowships For Women In Science to offer 10 fellowships to women from the 14 following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Each new fellow will receive US $20,000 in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of science
Dr. Tarek Shawki, Director of UNESCO Regional Bureau of Science and Technology for the Arab States declares, Recognition of outstanding work by women scientists in Arab States underscores the importance assigned by both UNESCO and L'Oral to the promotion of women in scientific research. It is a great pleasure for the UNESCO Regional Bureau of Science in Arab States to partner with L'Oral and the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) to deliver the first awards of the UNESCO-L'Oral Pan-Arab Fellowships in 2010. We look forward to greater contributions by women scientists towards finding solutions to developmental challenges in the region."
The impact of the fellowship awards could be seen at the fabulous ceremony held in Dubais Palace Hotel on the 29th September to honour the five winners of the 2010 fellowships Dr. Rehab Mohamed Amin (Egypt), Dr. Rania Zaarour (United Arab Emirates), Dr. Emen Rabhi (Tunisia), Dr. Entissar Alsuhaibani (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), and Dr. Jenny Jeehan Nasr (Egypt).
Dr. Abdalla A. Alnajjar, President of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) was impressed by the caliber of the winners, The aim of this fellowship is to support and motivate women to contribute to efforts to build a society and economy for Arab Knowledge. We want to support the participation of Arab women scientists in the regions renaissance and its social and economic development. These exceptional women demonstrate that women in science can exert a leading role in achieving rapprochement between people and renaissance.
The fellowships also create fantastic opportunities for the fellows themselves. Rania Zaarour, one of the promising young women scientists awarded by the Pan Arab Regional Fellowship Program, says, This award offers me the first opportunity to finance my own research and go further in my advanced work. It will enable me to acquire experience that I can share when I return home.
Since LOreals creation by chemist Eugene Schueller in 1909, science has been at the heart of the brand, and LOreal is the industrys biggest investor in research. Over 2/3 of the people working in LOreals research centre are women. This percentage is unmatched anywhere else in the industry.
As Anthony Ponsford, Managing Director of LOral Middle East explains, LOral Middle East is proud to support women in their passion for research, and equally proud to announce the expansion of the Pan Arab Regional Fellowships For Women in Science. Women across the pan Arab region are changing the face of science and we want to ensure they get the recognition they deserve.
Sharing the same vision, the program has partnered with Al Aan TV to play a significant role in empowering and supporting Arab women.
Applications for the 2011 fellowships will open on October 3, 2010 and close on February 12, 2011. They can be requested by writing to applications@forwomeninscience-panarab.org . Applications will be adjudicated by a panel of eminent scientists, chaired by Dr. Nabiel Saleh.
Follow the LOreal UNESCO For Women in Science Pan Arab Regional Fellowships ceremony on Al Aan TV, airing on Wednesday 6th of October, 2010 at 23:00 UAE time with a repeat on Thursday 7th October, 2010 at 4:00 & 8:00.
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About the LOral-UNESCO For Women in Science Program:
In 1998, LOral and UNESCO joined forces to found the LOral-UNESCO For Women in Science program. United by a shared conviction that the world needs science, and that science needs women, the LOral-UNESCO partnership is a unique and ambitious program developed with the goal of promoting women in scientific research. Since the programs inception, 57 Award Laureates from 27 countries and 135 International Fellows from 71 countries have been recognized, in addition to the LOral National Fellowship initiatives. Providing unprecedented support to women around the world, the program encourages the promotion of women in science on a global scale.
About the LOral Corporate Foundation:
Created in 2007, the LOral Corporate Foundation is committed to the pursuit of a better world. The projects of the Foundation, linked to the values and expertise of the L'Oral Group, reinforce and guarantee the long-term goals of the groups engagement to serve the public interest. Accompanied by partners respected in their fields, the Foundation pursues major international initiatives, such as the program For Women in Science as well as many other actions, in a spirit of openness and compassion.
About UNESCO:
Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has promoted science the S in its acronym for peace. Today, UNESCO strives to reinforce international cooperation in the basic sciences among its 193 Member States and promotes ethical norms in science. The Organization is dedicated to eliminating all forms of discrimination and promoting equality between men and women. As well as developing educational program in science particularly designed for girls, UNESCO has established a network of academic chairs creating links between women in science around the world.
About Al Aan TV:
Al Aan is a pan-Arab satellite broadcaster based in Dubai Media City, available free-to-air on Arabsat or Nilesat, offering original and innovative infotainment programs. The channel's aim is to educate as well as entertain while addressing the needs and aspirations of a young, dynamic and modern Arab woman, to whom the channel is a friend and a guide that broads her horizon and helps her plan her life and her choices and get the best for her family.
Al Aan TV achieved great success in boosting up its reach among target audience since its launch in August 2006. Based on Ipsos Stat conducted in KSA, the channels reach in April increased by %191 compared to the same month last year. As for UAE, the reach of the channel has increased by %12 compared to the same month last year. Al Aan is ranked the 7th in UAE among Arab female audience and the 12th in KSA.
Al Aan has also demonstrated strong online growth, for example with its 45 million YouTube views in the past 18 months.
For further information, please contact:
LOral Middle East
Reem Haroun
Tel: 04 3472735
Fax: 04 3417104
Email:reem@reemsideas.com
Yasmin Haji
Tel: +971 50 8469194
Email: yasmin@reemsideas.com
Remi Naser
Tel: +971 4 8064851
Email: RNASER@ae.loreal.com
UNESCO Cairo Office
Director: Mr Tarek Shawki
E-mail address: cairo@unesco.org
Work Phone: +202 2 794 5599, 2 795 0424
Fax: +202 2 794 5296
Address:
8 Abdel-Rahman Fahmy Street, Garden City
11541 Cairo
Egypt
Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF)
Dr. Ghada Amer
Deputy CEO
Ghada.amer@astf.net
908, 5 El-Mesaha Square,
El-Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Tel/Fax: +2 02 3365440
www.astf.net
Press Release 2010
