L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science honors 3 Egyptians among 14 Arab talents

14 / 02 / 2022

By Marwa Nassar - -

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science honored three Egyptians among 14 Arab female talents the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Egypt’s Sarah Abdelkader was honored for her research on on-site sustainable treatment methods for agricultural wastewater treatment to be reused in irrigation, while Dr. Ingy Ibrahim Abdallah for her research on overcoming receptor mutations in cancer targeted therapy.

Dr. Irene Samy Fahim Gabriel of Egypt was honored for her research on manufacturing of Sugarcane Bagasse-Based tableware in Egypt.

The Foundation L’Oréal and UNESCO has for the first time held the For Women in Science Young Talents Awards Ceremony for MENA at the Expo 2020 Dubai to honor the 14 Arab female scientists from the MENA region for their groundbreaking research in the fields of Life and Environmental sciences, Physical sciences, Mathematics and Computer sciences.

This program is part of the global L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative that has recognized over 3,900 phenomenal researchers and 122 Laureates from more than 110 countries and regions since its inception in 1998.

The 14 Young Talents included five from various countries in the GCC, three from Egypt and six from Levant – in the PhD students and post-doctorate researchers categories, underscoring their role in solving today’s challenges as well as inspiring the future generation of females.

Since its inception in the region in 2010, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents program has awarded more than 160 female scientists from MENA, including 28 Egyptians.

Meanwhile, “At the Foundation L’Oréal, we are committed to doing our part in creating an equal opportunity environment that enables everyone to reach their full potential,” said Alexandra Palt, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer and CEO of the Foundation L’Oréal.

“Women have shown more than ever that they are necessary in every possible field of research. Their contribution to science is vital as we thrive to build a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive world. But too often, their roles are being limited by gender biases and other obstacles. Through the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Program, we aim to improve the representation of women in STEM, to drive global impact by empowering more female scientists to achieve excellence at different stages of their careers and to encourage their participation in solving the great challenges of our time for the benefit of all.”

For his part, Benoit Julia, the Country Managing Director of L’Oréal Egypt, said “We are proud of our continued support for women in the field of science under the the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program which was launched in Egypt in 2018 in collaboration with our partner of success at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and Regional UNESCO Office in Egypt. L’Oréal believes in the importance of supporting and encouraging more Egyptian researchers and scientists.”

For her part, Nahla Mokhtar, the Communications & Sustainability Responsible Director at L’Oréal, said “L’Oréal Egypt seeks to empower women at all levels and in various domains through launching development projects and initiatives and opening new scientific and educational vistas for women to build an integrated society.”