L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science celebrated the achievements of 14 female scientists from the MENA region by honoring them for their research in fields such as Life and Environmental Sciences, Physical sciences, Mathematics, and Computer sciences.
The first “For Women in Science Young Talents Award Ceremony For MENA Region” took place at Expo Dubai 2020 in Dubai Exhibition Center, awarding young female scientists from Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan for their research in STEM fields.
They were awarded in the Ph.D. and post-doctorate researchers categories for solving problems and inspiring the future generation of women in their research.
Out of the 14 female awardees, three Lebanese women made it to the list of winners.
Arij Yehya
Arij Yehya, a Lebanese researcher based in Qatar was awarded in the Ph.D. category for her research on identifying factors that drive the widening of the gender gap in personality traits to further evaluate current and future gender policies.
Rachel Njeim
Lebanese Ph.D. student Rachel Njeim was awarded for her research on the contribution of NETosis to the pathogenesis of Diabetic Kidney Disease.
Hiba N. Rajha
Post-doctorate researcher Hiba N. Rajha was awarded for her research on food waste valorization through incorporation and nanoencapsulation of grape skin polyphenols in various cosmetic products.
UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, stated that “by recognizing and rewarding the vital role female scientists play in advancing knowledge in so many fields, they are not only inspiring new generations of young women to pursue careers in science and research but fostering a more inclusive, more representative scientific community.”
