uk resource centre for women in science, engineering and technology

The 2008 L’Oréal UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science Award launches today, starting the search for the UK and Ireland’s most talented female scientists - and putting the spotlight on the sector’s failure to support the two countries’ wealth of female scientific minds.   

With 72% of qualified female scientists currently not pursuing their scientific career, the award is designed to encourage greater participation of women in science by providing much needed financial support to women researching at postdoctoral level.

 

The annual award is a partnership between L’Oréal UK and Ireland, the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO, the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, The Royal Institution of Great Britain and the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

 

Although almost half a million women in the UK are qualified in science, engineering and technology, just 28% are currently working in the sector, with just one in five scientists in the UK being female. That equates to over 340,000 highly qualified women lost to British innovation.

Baroness Susan Greenfield, the first female Director of the Royal Institution and Chair of the L’Oréal UK and Ireland for Women in Science jury panel commented:

“The challenges of a research career for women mean that great scientific minds leave the sector. With this award, we are turning the spotlight on the fantastic women who are succeeding and the brilliance of research that is being conducted. We are offering investment to the talent that exists to ensure some of those challenges can be addressed.”

 

L’Oréal UK and Ireland and its partners will award fellowships of £15,000 (equivalent € for Irish candidates) to help fund the careers of four outstanding women scientists and through the programme, aim to help raise awareness of this drastic loss of skills and resources.

 

The programme is part of a global For Women In Science partnership between L’Oréal and UNESCO, which celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. In that time, almost 700 women scientists in 70 countries have been recognised for their work at the forefront of pressing global issues such as ecology, energy, health and genetics. 

 

Grita Loebsack, Managing Director, L’Oréal UK and Ireland said:

“L’Oréal is a research based company, founded by a chemist, and has long been a leader in recruiting and promoting women scientists in its own laboratories. We are dedicated to diversity in the workplace and nurturing talent. These awards take that dedication one step further and we hope that women in science really get involved and make this year a celebration of all that they achieve.”

 

The For Women In Science Fellowships have been designed to be flexible to offer women help to suit their individual circumstances. The prize money can be spent in any number of innovative ways to enable women scientists to further their careers and facilitate world class research.

They are tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institution to support 12 months of postdoctoral research in the life or physical sciences.

Last year, four exceptional women scientists were awarded L’Oréal UK For Women in Science national fellowships. Dr Theresa Burt de Perera from University of Oxford conducted research into the cognitive abilities of fish. Dr Seirian Sumner from the Zoological Society of London investigated social evolution. Dr Araxi Urrutia Odabachian from the University of Bath continued research into Human Genetics. And Dr Anna Git from Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute was recognised for her studies on antibodies.

 

The deadline for applications for L’Oréal UK and Ireland For Women In Science Fellowships is Wednesday 2 April 2008. For further information and how to apply, please visit: www.unesco.org.uk/For_Women_In_Science.htm