Five Women Biologists in Developing Countries Win 2016 Elsevier Foundation Awards - Seite 3

This important recognition helps invigorate the winners' careers by providing them with new visibility and extended professional networks, allowing them to engage with colleagues and the public while their careers are still at an early stage. The winners also serve as a source of inspiration for other women in countries where more scientific expertise is a critical need.

"The determination, commitment and enthusiasm of these five women is an inspiration to us all but especially to other women undertaking scientific research in developing countries. This award celebrates their excellent science and demonstrates that their hard work has had an impact both regionally and internationally, despite the difficult local conditions" said Fang Xin, president of OWSD.

"These are exemplary researchers, and their work has enormous potential to improve people's health and support stronger communities," said TWAS Executive Director Romain Murenzi. "Their work will be widely appreciated for the benefits it can bring to developing countries. Just as important, they will serve as models and as inspiration for young scientists - women and men - of a new generation."

David Ruth, executive director of the Elsevier Foundation, said, "Over the past 5 years, we've evolved these awards together with OWSD and TWAS and each year we learn more about the incredible challenges faced by women researchers doing science in low-resource settings. We hope that our awards help shine a light on these emerging women leaders and the important work they are doing in their fields-and what better place to do this than at the AAAS conference where the latest science, issues and leaders come together each year."

The Elsevier Foundation Award winners will be giving a talk about their work at the Global Women's Institute, George Washington University, February 11^th in a session moderated by Dr. Rachelle S. Heller, Professor in the Department of Computer Science.

You can read more about this story on Elsevier Connect.

Notes to editors 

Reporters wishing to attend the Award ceremony on February 13 at the AAAS Annual Meeting can contact: [e-mail].

About TWAS

The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) works to advance sustainable prosperity through research, education, policy and diplomacy. TWAS was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the developing world, under the leadership of Abdus Salam, the Pakistani physicist and Nobel Prize winner. Today, TWAS has nearly 1,200 elected Fellows from more than 90 countries; 16 of them are Nobel laureates. The Academy is based in Trieste, Italy, on the campus of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). Since 1983, its mission has focused on supporting and promoting excellence in scientific research in the developing world and applying scientific and engineering research to address global challenges. TWAS receives core funding from the Government of Italy. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) administers TWAS funds and personnel.