Dubai: Ten Arab women who have contributed to the advancement of science in the region were on Wednesday awarded with the L’Oreal-Unesco Pan Arab Regional Fellowship Award which is worth €15,000 (Dh55,090).
Held under the patronage of Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State and President of Zayed University, the award aims to honour, encourage and empower women scientists under the theme “the world needs science and science needs women”.
The programme, which was launched in the region in 2010 by L’Oreal and Unesco, aims to promote women in the field of scientific research. The monetary award received by the scientists will help them to further contribute to the region.
This year 10 Arab scientists and researchers, drawn from the UAE, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Qatar, Egypt and Syria, were awarded for their work in different fields.
The President of the jury, Nabeel Saleh commended the quality of this year’s applications stating: “They have demonstrated the impressive contribution that the region’s women are making across all disciplines of sciences.”
This year, the awarded scientists included: Sherien Elagroudy, Naeema Al Darmaki, Sherin Al Falah, Sana’a Sharaf Al Deen, Nihad Al Masri, Ines Yacoubi, Fatima Mraiche, Fatima Al Jasmi, Amira Senbel and Saja Al Zoubi.
Thierry Houssin, Managing Director of L’Oreal Middle East commended Unesco’s support adding: “This programme would be impossible without the ongoing support of our partner, Unesco, who have worked with us to organise the programme and to share the unique opportunities the fellowships offer.”
Since the programme began, 57 Award Laureates from 27 countries and 135 International Fellows from 71 countries have been recognised, in addition to the L’Oréal National Fellowship initiatives.
