In 1998, UNESCO and the world leading cosmetics group, L'Oral joined hands to initiate the annual UNESCO-L'Oral Awards. They are aimed at encouraging and supporting women scientists and improving their standing within the scientific community.

"L'Oral's commitment alongside UNESCO in the For Women in Science partnership is a concrete expression of our firm intention to promote women in scientific research and to participate in the creation of new careers throughout the world," said Lindsay Owen-Jones, chairman and CEO of L'Oral last Thursday at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris. She was speaking at the ceremony to present the 2006 awards to five exceptional women from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America.

"Our partnership with UNESCO is nine years old Nine years marked by great enthusiasm and major advances," said Beatrice Dautresme, vice-president in charge of Communication and Exterior Relations for L'Oral.

"The partnership perfectly illustrates our shared conviction that science is vital for the future of humanity and that the participation of women in its development is essential," Dautresme said.

Since 2000, the For Women in Science program has also been granting the UNESCO-L'Oral International Fellowship for young women scientists engaged in exemplary and promising projects.

"Young women are often torn between parental obligations and legitimate personal and professional ambitions. It is vital that we support young women at all stages of their careers, instead of making them feel guilty for wanting to have a family and a successful career in scientific research," said Gunter Blobel, 1999 Nobel Laureate in medicine, president of the life science jury of the UNESCO-L'Oral Awards.

National initiatives are organized throughout the year by L'Oral subsidiaries and UNESCO National Commissions with a variety of partners in the scientific and academic communities in some 20 countries, including China.

"We want to demonstrate the courage of women scientists in every country, even the least developed ones. The national fellowships are specifically adapted to the needs of different countries and to diverse local educational systems. Our ambition is to have a national scholarship program in 50 countries by 2008," said Dautresme.

Awards in China

In September 2004, L'Oral China joined hands with the All-China Women's Federation, the China Association for Science and Technology and the Chinese National Commission of UNESCO to grant the first "Chinese Young Women in Science Fellowship."

The fellowships, worth 100,000 yuan (US$12,330) each, went to Yang Jie, dean of the Life Sciences Institute of Inner Mongolia University; Lin Lin, head of the Respiratory Department at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Long Yaqiu of the Institute of Material Medical of Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Hou Yamei, researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeo-anthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dr Yang was recognized for her work on the ecology of the middle section of the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia and for grassland-farmland combination ecosystems.

Dr Lin's work was on using traditional Chinese medicines to cure respiratory diseases, while Dr Long's research was on proteins and the development of anti-cancer and anti-HIV drugs.

Dr Hou was the first to finish the Micro-Scratch Test and Blind Test, ushering in Experimental Archaeology in China.

Last year, the fellowship was expanded to honor the following five young Chinese women scientists:

Dr Chen Hualan, research fellow with the Harbin Veterinary Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, who specializes in veterinary science and infectious diseases;

Dr Li Tao, research fellow with the Psychiatry Institute of Sichuan Huaxi Hospital, with expertise in psychiatric genetics;

Dr Liu Zhihua, research fellow with the Tumour Institute at Tumour Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, an expert in molecular phymatology;

Dr Zen Rong, research fellow with the Shanghai Academy of Life Science, specializing in protein studies; and

Dr Lu Zhi, professor of conservation biology at Peking University. One of the most respected panda experts in the world, Lu is a devoted conservationist for environment and wildlife protection.

(China Daily March 8, 2006)