Seattle, February 14, 2020 - Five researchers have been named winners of the 2020 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for their research in engineering, innovation and technology. The winning scholars from Bangladesh, Guatemala, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Yemen are being recognized for their diverse accomplishments in engineering, innovation & technology. The prize also acknowledges the scientists' commitment to leading and mentoring young scientists, and to improving lives and livelihoods in their communities and regions.
"Recognition and visibility are important aspects of a scientific career," said OWSD President Jennifer Thomson. "OWSD is proud and happy to be able to give these inspiring women scientists the recognition they deserve: for their outstanding science, their commitment to building a better world and their persistence in often challenging circumstances."
The five winning researchers are:
"Over the past seven years, OWSD and the Elsevier Foundation have celebrated a breathtaking array of innovative research coming from high achieving women scientists working in some of the most resource constrained circumstances. Our 2020 winners continue to address crucial UN Sustainable Development Goals with inspiring results.
"From preserving river ecosystems, to tapping nanotechnology for innovative environmental interventions, designing rapid, early stage turbuculosis diagnostics, and training the next generation of computer programmers," added Prof. Thomson.
First awarded in 2013, the awards are given in partnership by OWSD and the Elsevier Foundation . OWSD chairs a panel of distinguished scientists to select the winners, and the Elsevier Foundation supports a prize for each winner of USD $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the annual AAAS Meeting (American Association for the Advancement of Science) in Seattle, February 12-16, 2020. The five winners will be honored on February 15 at a special breakfast ceremony during the AAAS Meeting.
Past OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award winners have been received by their country's presidents and celebrated by local, national and international media. They have received other prestigious awards and fellowships including the L'OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowships and the British Council Award.
Notes for editors
The awards ceremony will take place February 15, 2020 during the Minority and Women Scientists and Engineers Networking Breakfast from 7:00-9:00 AM PST in Seattle at the AAAS Annual Meeting (American Association for the Advancement of Science).
Journalists wishing to attend the ceremony may contact Domiziana Francescon at d.francescon@elsevier.com "> d.francescon@elsevier.com .
The 2020 winners are:
Reference sheets for each award winner with a more extensive biography and description of their work are available upon request.
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About OWSD
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) provides research training, career development and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world. Headed by eminent women scientists from the South, OWSD has more than 9,000 members and runs various programmes, including a PhD fellowship programme with over 270 successful graduates from Least Developed Countries and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as an Early Career fellowship programme providing research grants of up to USD$50,000 in addition to leadership training. OWSD is the first international forum to unite women scientists from the developing world with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership. OWSD is affiliated with The World Academy of Science (TWAS), a programme unit of UNESCO, and is based in Trieste, Italy, with national chapters throughout the developing world. http://www.owsd.net/ "> http://www.owsd.net
About The Elsevier Foundation
The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to knowledge centered institutions around the world, with a sustainability focus on innovations in health information, diversity in STM, research in developing countries and technology for development. Since 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than 100 grants worth millions of dollars to non-profit organizations working in these fields. Through gift-matching, the Foundation also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in their local and global communities. The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate not-for-profit 501(c)(3), funded by Elsevier, a global information analytics business. http://www.elsevierfoundation.org
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps scientists and clinicians to find new answers, reshape human knowledge, and tackle the most urgent human crises. For 140 years, we have partnered with the research world to curate and verify scientific knowledge. Today, we're committed to bringing that rigor to a new generation of platforms. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect , Scopus , SciVal , ClinicalKey and Sherpath . Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell , 39,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy . Elsevier is part of RELX , a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. http://www.elsevier.com
Media contacts
Domiziana Francescon, Program Officer
Elsevier Foundation
+31 6 102 159 01
d.francescon@elsevier.com
Erin Johnson, Communications Officer
OWSD
+39 040 2240 387
ejohnson@owsd.net