Ten outstanding women were presented with the 11th China Female Scientist Awards in Beijing on January 16, 2015.

Wei Yu, vice president of China Association for Science and Technology and former vice minister of education (1993-2002), said the 10 winners had been selected from 183 candidates of 111 work units by 37 academicians.

Vice President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) Song Xiuyan said more than 2,000 women scientists made up an indispensable sector of Chinese science and the award-winners were outstanding representatives of China's woman scientists.

Song, who also serves as the First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, expressed the hope that the awards would encourage and motivate women scientists to make greater achievements.

After the awards ceremony, the 10 award winners spoke to more than 100 senior female high school students, answered questions and encouraged them to study science and explore its beauty.

The China Female Scientist Awards were established by the ACWF, the China Association for Science and Technology, the China National Commission for UNESCO and L'Oreal China in 2004 to recognize Chinese women under the age of 45 who have made outstanding achievements in basic and life sciences.

This annual event presents awards to a maximum of 10 winners each year and at least one from west China.

This year, the 10 award recipients were Researcher Chen Chunying from the National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NCNST), Researcher Yu Xiang from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor Huang Ru from School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University; Researcher Jia Weihua from the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center; Professor Liao Hong from the State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University; Researcher Duan Huiling from the Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Peking University; Professor Li Yongping from the Sino-Canada Resources and Environmental Research Academy, North China Electric Power University; Researcher Chen Xuefei from Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Researcher Li Yingxian from the Scientific Research Training Center for Chinese Astronauts; and Professor Liu Jianni from the Department of Geology, Northwest University.

The 11th awards ceremony was also attended by Vice Executive President of the China Association for Science and Technology Shang Yong and Vice President Shen Yan; Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF Jiao Yang; Professor Fei Weiyang from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University; Secretary General of the China National Commission for UNESCO Du Yue; Vice Consul of the French Embassy in China Abdo Malac; as well as Vice President of L'Oreal China Lan Zhenzhen.

Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology Zhang Qin presided over the awards ceremony. (Women of China)