The Elsevier Foundation, TWAS and TWOWS announced today that they are recognizing twelve talented women scientists from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for their research excellence. The announcement was made at the Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) 4th General Assembly and International Conference, 'Women Scientists in a Changing World', hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing from 27-30 June 2010. Each winner will receive a cash prize of USD5,000.
Through a grant from The Elsevier Foundation, the TWOWS Awards for Young Women Scientists were expanded to cover three disciplines in each region – biology, chemistry and physics/mathematics. The grant was made as part of The Elsevier Foundation New Scholar's programme, which supports programmes for women scholars during the early stages of demanding careers in science and technology. After a rigorous review by the four regional TWOWS committees, shortlisted candidates in each discipline were nominated and subsequently ranked by the regional vice-presidents and Kaiser Jamil, the current TWOWS president.
The twelve winners are:
|
Subject |
Recipient |
Country |
Institution |
|
ASIA |
|
|
|
|
Biology |
ZENG Fanyi
|
China |
Shanghai Institute of Medical Genetics, Shanghai |
|
Chemistry |
Ilkay ORHAN
|
Turkey |
Department of Pharmacognosy, Gazi University, Ankara |
|
Physics/ Mathematics |
Priya MAHADEVAN 
|
India |
S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata |
|
AFRICA |
|
|
|
|
Biology |
Uchechi EKWENY
|
Nigeria |
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike |
|
Chemistry |
Ndidiamaka Anthonet EZEJIOFOR 
|
Nigeria |
Department of Pharmacology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Abia |
|
Physics/ Mathematics |
Christine Margarete STEENKAMP 
|
South Africa |
University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch |
|
ARAB REGION |
|
|
|
|
Biology |
Ghada ABDEL-SALAM 
|
Egypt |
National Research Centre, Giza |
|
Chemistry |
Lilyan ALSAKA 
|
Iraq |
Environmental and Pollution Control Research Centre, Mosul University, Mosul |
|
Physics/ Mathematics |
Sakina Fakhraddin Adam ALI |
Yemen |
Department of Physics, Sana'a University, Sana'a |
|
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN |
|
|
Biology |
Myriam Adela AMEZCUA-ALLIERI 
|
Mexico |
Mexican Institute of Petroleum, Mexico City |
|
Chemistry |
Aramis RIVERA
|
Cuba |
Institute of Science and Technology of Materials, University of Havana |
|
Physics/ Mathematics |
Aimé PELAÍZ-BARRANCO 
|
Cuba |
Physics Faculty, University of Havana |
"It gives us great pleasure to announce the twelve recipients of the TWOWS Awards for Young Women Scientists, says Kaiser Jamil, President TWOWS. "The recognition that this provides will undoubtedly provide an invaluable boost to the promising careers of these young women scientists. TWOWS extends a warm thanks to The Elsevier Foundation for making this possible."
"The Elsevier Foundation is honoured to be able to recognize and reward talented young women scientists from around the world," noted David Ruth, the Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation. "Encouraging the work of promising scientists in the developing world helps to promote wider participation and excellence in science, a key objective of The Elsevier Foundation's New Scholars programme."
