GCC Women Receive High Honor from the “L’Oreal –UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Fellowship” program

Under the Patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Honored Minister of International Cooperation and Development, President of Zayed University, UAE

Every year the L’Oréal Foundation, in partnership with UNESCO, renews its unwavering commitment to women who work in science in the Middle East. Thus, the L’Oreál-UNESCO Middle East Fellowship Grant is awarded annually to Arab women scientists, both in recognition of their achievements in the field as well as in championing the role of women in science in this region. It has been 17 years since the L’Oreál-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative first began as a global program that would change stereotypical perceptions about women who choose a career in science. The mandate of this initiative was also to champion, promote and encourage women in science, and to bring about a greater diversity to science by addressing an existing gender gap.

So what exactly do the numbers tell us about this gender gap in science? Today, only 30% of researchers in science are women. Less than 3% of Nobel Prize winners in the sciences are women. Why address this gap? Studies suggest that there are benefits to be gained from a more diverse research team as it leads to better results. A richer variety of viewpoints and approaches contribute positively to the conditions that impact the quality of the research. So, if science is to help improve our lives, then it must include a wider representation of different talents. Most importantly, if women are perceived to be stakeholders in the future of our world, then it is vital to provide them a place in science and to acknowledge their role in its future. In order for this to be sustainable, women in science must feel that they are able to work in an environment that fosters respect, dignity and harmony. Thus, the For Women in Science is a vehicle for women’s voices to be heard. It supports women in the field of scientific research, recognizing and encouraging excellence in fields where women are underrepresented. The aim is a greater diversity in science that in turn allows science to become more relevant to us all.

This year, the L’Oréal-UNESCO Middle East Fellowship Grants, among the world’s most significant awards granted to women in science and each worth 20,000 Euros, were awarded to four extraordinary Arab women scientists for their outstanding contributions. Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Honored Minister of International Cooperation and Development, President of Zayed University, UAE praised L’Oreál for its commitment, and congratulated the winners. “The role of women in society has evolved considerably over the years. Emirati women are now well-represented in all echelons of society, including the political arena, diplomatic corps, judiciary, the commercial sector as well as higher education and scientific research,“ she said.

At the awards ceremony, held November 23rd at Zayed University’s Convention Centre, Jury President, Secretary General of CNRS, Dr. Mouin Hamzé said: “Congratulations to this year’s remarkable winners, 2015 fellows, Adhra Al Mawali from Oman, Maha Al Mozaini from KSA, Maha Al Sabbagh from Bahrain and Nazek El Atab from the UAE, each for their outstanding research and contributions to their separate fields of science. Their valuable work and passion for science proves that it is both necessary and worthwhile to continue to encourage and motivate female researchers and university students in the GCC to engage in the research, development and scientific innovation system.

Thierry Houssin, Managing Director at L’Oréal Middle East added: “Science At the awards ceremony, held November 23rd at Zayed University’s Convention Centre, Jury President, Secretary General of CNRS, Dr. Mouin Hamzé said: “Congratulations to this year’s remarkable winners, 2015 fellows, Adhra Al Mawali from Oman, Maha Al Mozaini from KSA, Maha Al Sabbagh from Bahrain and Nazek El Atab from the UAE, each for their outstanding research and contributions to their separate fields of science. Their valuable work and passion for science proves that it is both necessary and worthwhile to continue to encourage and motivate female researchers and university students in the GCC to engage in the research, development and scientific innovation system.

has become known as a field dominated by men and thus, we at L’Oréal commit ourselves to supporting ambitious women scientists with exceptional talent, promise and resolution and aid them in carrying out their ground-breaking studies that will change in the world.  It is also vital to have more women in science as they will help inspire young girls and women to take risks, innovate and follow in their footsteps.”

To find out more about the L’Oreál-Unesco For Women in Science initiative and the work it undertakes globally each year, please follow the #Changethenumbers campaign online.

The 2015 fellows are:

• Adhra Al Mawali  (Oman) Director of Studies and Research Centre at the Ministry of Health, Oman: for her research in Novel Multiparameter Flow Cytometry for the detection of Leukaemia associated phenotypes and Minimal Residual Disease Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

• Maha Al Mozaini (KSA) Scientist, Immunocompromised Host Research at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh as well as Adjunct Associate Professor at King Saud University, Riyadh: for her research focused on two different immunosuppressed populations of patients, namely HIV and organ recipient patients

• Maha Al Sabbagh (Bahrain) Lecturer in Environmental Management at the College of Graduate Studies, at the Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain: for her research in trajectories to low-carbon mobility in Bahrain

• Nazek El Atab (UAE) PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Engineering at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology: for her research on fabricating novel non-volatile, low-power, charge-trapping memory devices with enhanced performance