Dubai: The L'ORÉAL-UNESCO 'For Women in Science' Pan Arab Regional Fellowships Program has awarded US$20,000 fellowships to 5 outstanding Arab women scientists. The women were selected in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of science and in acknowledgment and support of their continuing education in science.
The L'ORÉAL-UNESCO partnership promotes the cause of women in science by highlighting examples of scientific excellence and by encouraging young women to choose scientific careers. Over the past 12 years, 62 L'OREAL-UNESCO Award Laureates from 28 countries have been recognized for their work and, through a program of national and international fellowships, 864 young women from 93 countries have been encouraged to pursue their scientific vocation.
The L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Pan Arab Fellowships program is a new chapter in this pre-eminent international partnership. The Fellowships are a close cooperation between the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), the Regional Bureau for UNESCO based in Cairo, L'Oréal Middle East and funded by the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation. The aim of the Pan-Arab Regional Fellowships is to empower Arab women scientists, celebrate their contributions to the world of science, and acknowledge the key role they can play in the development of the region.
The Fellowships provide practical help for these talented scientists and also serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for future young scientists. The success of the program can be seen in the 149 fellowship applications received by the jury this year from women in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Tunisia and Egypt.
The president of the jury, Dr. Nabiel Saleh, was overwhelmed by the response. "Firstly, I would like to congratulate all these young women scientists who have made key contributions to science and knowledge across all disciplines, particularly in health and life sciences. This year, we received so many applications of such high quality that made the job of the jury a challenging one. After several rounds of deliberation based on the scientific merits, it was decided to reward five exceptional women for their contributions to scientific progress. By offering awards of US$20000 to each of them, the Par Arab Regional Fellowships Program encourages these women to further pursue their scientific vocations."
The 2010 L'Oreal- UNESCO For Women in Science Pan Arab Regional fellows are:
Rehab Mohamed Amin (Egypt), Professor at the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science in Cairo University: for her academic excellence and the promise of her research in the field of Photobiology.
Rania Zaarour (United Arab Emirates), Professor at the University of Sharjah, College of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences: for her academic excellence and the promise of her research into the complex relationship between tumor cells and the surrounding host cells, an important aspect of cancer biology.
Emen Rabhi (Tunisia), Professor at the Pasteur Institute in Tunis: for her academic excellence and the promise of her research about the biological validation of the effect of Leishmania parasitic infection on macrophage metabolic pathways.
Entissar Alsuhaibani (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Professor at the King Saud University in Riyadh: for her academic excellence and the promise of her research into radiation genotoxicity.
Jenny Jeehan Nasr (Egypt), Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Mansoura University: for her academic excellence and the promise of her research in the field of Pharmaceutical Chemical Analysis.
The fellowship ceremony will take place on September 29th 2010 at the Palace Hotel in Dubai.
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About the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science partnership:
In 1998, L'Oréal and UNESCO joined forces to found the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science partnership. United by a shared conviction that the world needs science, and that science needs women, the L'Oréal-UNESCO partnership is a unique and ambitious programme developed with the goal of promoting women in scientific research. Since the programme's inception, 62 Award Laureates from 28 countries and 864 Fellows from 93 countries have been recognized. Providing unprecedented support to women around the world, the programme encourages the promotion of women in science on a global scale.
About the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation:
Created in 2007, the L'Oréal 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'Oréal Group, reinforce and guarantee the long-term goals of the group's engagement to serve the public interest. Accompanied by partners respected in their fields, the Foundation pursues major international initiatives, such as the For Women in Science programme 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 Organisation is 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 network of academic chairs creating links between women in science around the world.
About Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF)
Since 2000, The Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) is an independent, nongovernmental, non-profit regional and international organization. Scientists and researchers from inside and outside the Arab world as well as representatives of Arab and international science centers and organizations have contributed to its establishment. It is based in Sharjah, UAE, and eventually has six branches and is seeking to establish additional link branches and links in those Arab and world capitals that have scientific entities willing to participate in its activities. ASTF has a network of 13,000 Arab Scientists, Engineers & Technology Entrepreneurs and Cooperates with more than 400 International Entities.
ASTF encourages and supports excellence and innovation in scientific and technological research in the Arab countries and is committed to promoting coordination and cooperation among scientists and scientific organizations for the sake of applying knowledge to the service of sustainable development in the Arab countries.
For more information on ASTF, visit www.astf.net
© Press Release 2010
