In its ninth year, the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Programme, in partnership with Khalifa University of Science and Technology, has honoured five visionary women from the GCC. The honour recognises and supports their groundbreaking research in the fields of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science. 

 

The regional programme is part of the L’Oréal-Unesco’s global For Women in Science initiative that has already recognised over 3,900 phenomenal researchers and more than 100 Laureates from more than 110 countries and regions since its inception in 1998. 

 

This year, grants were awarded to Post-doctorate Researchers Dr Maha Zakariya Yahya Al-Riyami (Oman), Dr Raefa Abou Khouzam (UAE) and Dr Fatiha M. Benslimane (Qatar), who received EUR 20,000 ($21,305) each; and PhD students Hessa Ebrahim Ali Alfalahi (UAE) and Ayesha Abdulla Alkhoori (UAE), who were awarded EUR 8,000 each in their category. These women are playing a pivotal role in addressing critical global issues and paving the way forward for more young women to enter STEM fields. Since its inception in the region, the programme has recognised 45 researchers from the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. 

 

Healthy increase

The programme continues to receive the endorsement for the fourth year in a row of Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, who said: “Foundation L’Oréal and Unesco’s initiative to recognise young women scientists continues to create an enabling environment for diversity in STEM. Over the past few years, we have seen a healthy increase in the representation of women in these fields, we know that there is a lot more work that needs to be done to foster career progression across organisations. Creating opportunities such as this is the essential first step to encouraging more young women researchers to push ahead and make a mark in the science and technology fields.” 

 

She added: “The Arab world has its share of pioneering women scientists, and their work has played a key role in addressing issues that impact global society. We can see examples of driving forward with diversity in the UAE, providing women with access to funding, career progression and equal-pay.”

 

The latest Unesco Science Report recognises the effort of many countries in the Arab world for achieving gender parity at the university level. The gap, however, widens as women enter the workplace with several barriers that set them back in their careers. Women researchers were found to have shorter, less well-paid positions, and were given smaller grants than their male counterparts. 

 

Driving ethos

The driving ethos behind the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Programme is ‘The world needs science and science needs women’. The programme was created to break down barriers to progress for women in STEM and provide them with the tools to succeed. 

 

Laurent Duffier, L’Oréal Middle East Managing Director, said that the initiative has been instrumental in unearthing the brightest minds and inspiring careers for future generations.

 

“The programme has grown from strength-to-strength and so has the number of women scientists who are leading people-centered research and development. At L’Oréal Groupe, science and innovation are at the heart of everything that we do. Enabling and empowering emerging female scientists and their cutting-edge research is a mission that we are committed to, especially in this region where contributions by women scientists are vital to solutions for the emerging world. 

 

“Our winners represent the most ambitious and passionate women in the region who are not deterred by any hurdle in their pursuit and commitment to finding novel solutions to problems that impact our communities, while also being a beacon of empowerment for young girls embarking on their careers in STEM.” 

 

Immense potential

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology said: “We only need to look within our own research-intensive academic institution to gauge the immense potential among the region’s women researchers who are ready to seize every opportunity to make a difference in our societies. 

 

“Khalifa University is proud to boast several high-profile women scientists among our faculty and researchers. Now more than ever, we need women to take the lead in driving the industry 4.0 revolution and are proud to partner with the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science in the Middle East for the fourth year in a row to nurture their career development. The UAE has made great strides in ensuring equality and representation across the board, right from the education level to women spearheading key scientific and technological advancements, which has enhanced its global competitiveness. More such initiatives across the region and globally will secure a diverse and talented workforce in science and technology. “

 

Professor Mouïn Hamzé, President of Programme’s Jury, added: “Equity, diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones of science and research. Women bring to the table perspectives and diverse viewpoints that are imperative to finding innovative solutions for pressing global issues, such as climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, future tech and cybersecurity. This programme has successfully built a network of bright minds who have contributed to many advancements in these areas and continues to turn the tide on underrepresentation in the STEM fields by encouraging young women to pursue careers that respond to the needs of the society.”-- TradeArabia News Service