The 2^nd annual L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Levant and Egypt regional fellowships was held at the American University of Beirut tonight, before an audience of government officials, personalities from the world of science, academics and cultural organizations, institutional and media representatives.

Five outstanding researchers coming from five Arab countries were awarded the L’Oréal-UNESCO Fellowship by Mr. Malek Bekdache, Managing Director of L’Oréal Levant, Mr. Geoff Skingsley, Executive Vice-President L’Oréal Africa and Middle East Zone, and Dr. Mouin Hamzé, President of the Jury and Secretary General of the National Council  for Scientific Research in Lebanon.

“The women we are honoring today are gifted and passionate ladies who have committed to changing the world. They are using science to find innovative solutions to today’s biggest challenges and make the world a better place” said Malek Bekdache. “Faced with the mounting challenges of our century, it is more important than ever that we continue to lend them our support” Bekdache continued.

In 1998, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO joined forces to fight for a better representation of women in science, a field still largely dominated by men. Each year, the program recognizes 5 leading women scientists, from each world region, who have made extraordinary discoveries in their fields, and grants fellowships to 236 researchers. Since the creation of the program, over 2,250 greatly talented women have been distinguished in over 110 countries.

The L’Oréal UNESCO For Women In Science Levant and Egypt regional fellowships program highlights the crucial role that Arab women play in science, through honoring outstanding female postdoctoral researchers who presented exceptional projects in different science and technology areas. Each fellow receiving a grant of 10 000 Euros is empowered through this initiative to push forward her research efforts in the field of her choice.

“Although Arab women under-representation in scientific fields has greatly improved since 1970s, women still face obstacles and barriers to their scientific career advancement. Thus, the Arab region is in a great need for programs such as L’Oréal UNESCO “For Women In Science” which recognize, honor, and empower female scientists at crucial junctures in their careers when difficulties can get the better of their dedication to science”, said Dr. Mouin Hamzé.

The Jury, chaired by Dr. Mouin Hamzé, chose five exceptional Arab women scientists respectively from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine:

• Dr. Nashwa Mamdouh El Bendary (Egypt), from The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, will continue her research in monitoring and assessing climate change impact on agricultural crops.
• Dr. Intisar Shadeed Jlaib Al-Mejibli (Iraq), from the University of Information Technology and Communications / Baghdad. Her research will focus on designing and developing a healthcare system that is based on the combination of communications, imaging, sensing and human computer interaction technologies to monitor patient status remotely.
• Dr. Ramia Zuhair Al Bakain (Jordan), from the University of Jordan. She will pursue her research in developing new methods in chemical separation of environmental contaminants from soil, water and food, as well as, drug residues.
• Dr. Hiba El Hajj (Lebanon), from the American University of Beirut. Her main research interests focus on Oncology and Parasitology, and her ultimate aim is to provide a better understanding of the biology of the diseases she is working on, at the molecular level, in order to provide better management, care and treatment strategies to the patients.
• Dr. Abeer Al-Qatati (Palestine), from Al-Azhar University/Gaza. Her research project will focus on detecting circulating miRNAs in the blood of breast and colon cancer patients of Gaza Strip for better early diagnosis, prognosis, follow up and treatment.

” The L’Oréal UNESCO For Women In Science program is characterized by its commitment to the audacity and tenacity of women in the Arab world and throughout the globe. The program is a tangible promise to help push Arab women scientists achievements to their furthest limits by confronting prejudice and by helping inspire vocations for the young women of tomorrow, because the world needs Science and Science needs women, Arab women scientists”, said Geoff Skingsley.

For the 17^th year in a row, the L’Oréal Foundation renews its commitment to recognizing the scientific excellence of women who help change the world, support future talent and encourage scientific careers.