Eleven Women Scientists Announced as Winners of Elsevier Foundation OWSD Awards

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, September 29, 2011 -

- Outstanding young biologists, chemists, physicists and mathematicians recognized across the developing world

The Elsevier Foundation, TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) announced today that they are recognizing eleven talented women scientists from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for their research excellence. The announcement was made at the International Symposium on Women in Science and Engineering (WISE 2011) held in conjunction with the International Year of Chemistry 2011 and hosted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM) in Kuala Lumpur from September 29-30. Each winner will receive a cash prize of US$5,000.

“Once again, the standard of the winners selected for the OWSD Awards for Young Women Scientists from the Developing World has been outstanding. For us, this is not a surprise, as we are well aware of the excellent contributions that women are making to science,” noted Professor Fang Xin, President of OWSD. “The aim of the OWSD Awards, therefore, is to honor the work of these young researchers, bringing it to the attention of the scientific and policy-making communities in their countries, and to highlight their successes so that they may act as role models to other girls and young women who might be considering a career in science.”

Lubna Tahtamoouni, winner from The Hashemite University in Jordan said, “Over the years I came to recognize that it is difficult for women to do science since they have to juggle their career, marriage, motherhood and other social obligations. Winning such an award made me more confident about my decision of pursuing a career in science. Women need recognition, especially young women to give them that ‘head start’ and confidence. This award is celebrating women!”

Denise Evans, biological sciences winner from South Africa added, “It is important to highlight that women, even from developing countries, are doing great things - making breakthroughs, contributing to advances in medicine, science, chemistry and engineering - becoming leaders and experts in their field. It is important to acknowledge young scientists so that they may be motivated from an early age to stay in science and develop a career in science and research.”

Through a grant from the Elsevier Foundation, the OWSD Awards for Young Women Scientists from the Developing World were expanded to cover three disciplines in each region - Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/Maths. The grant was made as part of the Elsevier Foundation New Scholars program, which supports programs for women scholars during the early stages of demanding careers in science and technology. After a rigorous review by the four regional OWSD committees, shortlisted candidates in each discipline were nominated and subsequently ranked by the regional vice presidents and Professor Fang Xin, the current OWSD president. The eleven winners include:

    Region    Subject        Nominee        Country      Institution

                                                      Bangladesh
            Biological                                Agricultural
    Asia    Sciences    BEGUM, Mahfuza     Bangladesh University

                                                      University of
            Phys/Maths  MOHANTA, Rukmani     India    Hyderabad

            Chemical                                  University of
            Science     SHAHEEN, Farzana    Pakistan  Karachi

                        ADERMOLA,                     University of
    Africa  Phys/Maths  Janet Ayobami       Nigeria   Ibadan

            Chemical    OSOWOLE,                      University of
            Sciences    Aderoju Amoke       Nigeria   Ibadan

            Biological                                University of the
            Sciences    EVANS, Denise      S. Africa  Witwatersrand

            Chemical                                  National Research
    Arab R. Sciences    ISMAIL, Nahla        Egypt    Centre

            Biological                                The Hashemite
            Sciences    TAHTAMOUNI, Lubna    Jordan   University

                        GONZALEZ SANCHEZ,             Instituto de
    LAC     Phys/Maths  Maria Magdalena      Mexico   Astronomia

                                                      Centre for Genetic
            Biological  HERMIDA CRUZ,                 Engineering and
            Sciences    Lisset                Cuba    Biotechnology

                                                      Universidad
                        Silvina,                      Nacional de
            Phys/Maths  PELLEGRINET        Argentina  Rosario

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister for Women, Family and Community Development in Malaysia says, “It is an honor for Kuala Lumpur to host such an award. Malaysia is and always will be committed to advancing women in science. The strength of our nation depends on empowering our women, and enabling them to believe that they are every bit as capable of succeeding in science as men. We are very pleased that the OWSD and the Elsevier Foundation share this vision and show us through their innovative programs that when women are given the right support, their capacity to succeed is limitless.”

“We are proud to present the OWSD award to eleven extremely gifted young women working in different areas of science,” noted Prof. Dr. Farida Habib Shah, Vice President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, TWAS fellow and WISE 2011 conference organizer. “This award provides them with the recognition they deserve and a very special thanks must go to the Elsevier Foundation for making this possible. This award serves as a boost not only to their personal careers but also to the thousands of young women working in science across developing countries.”  

“We know from experience how important it is to fight the steady loss of talented women in science caused through lack of support during critical family building years, lack of networking opportunities and mentorship-or simply a lack of recognition and opportunities,” David Ruth, Executive Director for the Elsevier Foundation, remarked. “Congratulations are in order to our eleven winners and the excellent research they have undertaken over the past years. Each of these scientists represents a powerful role model to colleagues and the next generation of women scientists in the developing world.”

About OWSD

The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is an international sister organization of TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world. OWSD is headed by eminent women scientists from the south, consisting of more than 3,000 members. The central role is to promote women’s access to science and technology, enhancing their greater involvement in the decision-making processes for the development of their countries and in the international scientific community. Created in 1989, OWSD overall goal is to work towards bridging the gender gap in science and technology. OWSD uses its forum for intellectual discussions to assist in the development of national capabilities to evolve, explore and improve strategies for increasing female participation in science.

About TWAS

TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, is an autonomous international organization, based in Trieste, Italy, that promotes scientific excellence for sustainable development in the South. Originally named “Third World Academy of Sciences”, it was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the South under the leadership of the late Nobel laureate Abdus Salam of Pakistan. The Academy’s strength resides in the quality and diversity of its membership - internationally renowned scientists elected by their peers. TWAS currently has more than 900 members from 90 countries, 73 of which are developing countries. It is administered by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and financially supported by the Italian government.

About The Elsevier Foundation

The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to institutions around the world, with a focus on support for the world’s libraries and for scholars in the early stages of their careers. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 60 grants worth millions of dollars to non-profit organizations working in these fields. In January 2010, $600,000 in grants was awarded to 12 organizations selected for their innovation and potential for impact in the developing world and academic workplace. Through gift-matching, the Foundation also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in their local and global communities. The Elsevier Foundation is funded by Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier’s online solutions include SciVerse ScienceDirect, SciVerse Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Nursing Consult, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai’s Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media Contacts
OWSD
Daniel Schaffer, Information Officer
+39 040 2240 571
schaffer@twas.org
www.owsd.net

Tasia Asakawa
+39 040 2240 516
asakawa@twas.org

Elsevier Foundation
Ylann Schemm
Elsevier Foundation Manager
+31 20 485 2025
newsroom@elsevier.com
elsevier@kaizo.net

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