The Fifteenth Ceremony of “L’Oréal Italia for Women and Science” award was held at the University of Milan on June 12th.

The initiative sees L’Oréal and UNESCO together to promote the involvement of  women in the scientific research.

The ceremony has been attended by: Francois-Xavier Fenart, President and Managing Director of L’Oréal Italia, Enrico Vicenti, Secretary General of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, Francesca Brianza, Councilor for Social Welfare and Social Inclusion of the Lombardy Region, Roberta Cocco, Councilor for Digital Transformation and Civic Services of the Municipality of Milan, Daniela Candia, Full Professor – Deputy Vice-Rector of the University of Milan and Lucia Votano, the new Physics Chair and former Director of Laboratories in Gran Sasso, the first woman to cover this responsibility.

Eliana Liotta, journalist and writer, introduced and conducted the event.

This year six women received a scholarship worth 20,000 Euro for their research projects which stood out from the mass.

This edition competition announcement has attracted more than 450 applications from all parts of Italy obtaining a record number of projects:  a clear indication of the growing value and reputation of the initiative worldwide.

After a careful evaluation, the jury selected the six most deserving researches who will receive concrete support to continue their professional career, bringing a further contribution to the scientific progress.

The six italian women recipients of scholarships

Here below the six winners who distinguished themselves for their research projects focused on Science for Life and Matter,  including Engineering, Mathematics and  Informatics.  Near their names, the institutes which will host their projects:

• Elena Calciolari – Dentistry  (Università degli Studi di Parma, Dept. Medicine and Surgery, Dental Center)
• Domenica Farci – Biology (Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Plant Physiology and Photobiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences and the Environment)
• Chiara Morosinotto – Biology (Università degli Studi di Padova, Department of Biology)
• Chiara Nardon – Chemistry (Università degli studi di Padova, Department of Chemical Sciences)
• Francesca Sacco – Biology (Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Department of Biology)
• Alice Trivellini – Biology  (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa. Institute of Sciences for Life)

Francois-Xavier Fenart, President and Managing Director of L’Oréal Italia, commented: “I am honored to award today these six talented young talents. For us, this event is far more than a ceremony, it’s a promise: the promise of discovering the full potential of science thanks to the extraordinary contribution of women. Each year, at this ceremony, we reiterate our commitment to science – it is part of L’Oréal’s DNA – and to women in science. Active for 19 years and with over 2,800 award-winning researchers in 115 countries, the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science program remains unique and unmatched. Italy has and continues to make an important contribution to the Program. In fifteen years we have assigned 76 scholarships, we have increased the value from 15,000 to 20,000 euros and this year we decided to allocate one more, passing from 5 to 6. Because we are convinced that women in research can change the world “

Enrico Vicenti, Secretary General of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO. “Eliminating gender stereotypes and making women’s participation accessible to science at all levels is central to our project. At present, women, according to the latest UNESCO Scientific Report, make up 53% of graduates (three-year and master’s degree) globally, but their number is drastically diminishing in research doctorates (43%). As you get in deep into the system of research, there is a decrease in female participation: women are only 28% of researchers globally. With L’Oréal-UNESCO we want to give new generations more and more examples of women who have successful careers in science. “

Born in 1998 at L’Oréal and UNESCO, “For Women in Science” was the first international award dedicated to women working in the scientific research. Today, it is part of a vast program focusing on the promotion of scientific vocation at an international level aimed at recognizing the work of researchers around the world. Since the beginning, the program “For Women in Science” chose to award a prize of $ 100,000 to five candidates, one for each of the five continents.

This global commitment has been strengthened by the creation of scholarships. In fact, in addition to the prizes awarded to the 5 graduates, 15 international scholarships and numerous national scholarships are awarded annually to young researchers. From 1998 to today, 2,820 researchers in 115 countries were supported in their career path.

In Italy, the program “L’Oréal Italia For Women and Science” has come to its fifteenth edition.

The 6 scholarships have a value of 20,000 euros. So far, 76 scholarships have been awarded to as many scientists.

The Jury:

Lucia Votano, chairwoman (Physicist, Research Director of INFN)

Enrico Alleva (Ethologist, Research Manager and Director of the Reference Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Institute of Higher Health)

Mauro Anselmino (Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Turin)

Maria Benedetta Donati (Head of the Laboratory for Transdermal Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED of Pozzilli (IS)

Cristina Emanuel (Scientific Director and Regulator L’Oréal Italia)

Federica Migliardo (Professor of Experimental Physics, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina)

Marcella Motta (former Professor of Physiology, University of Milan, Acting Member of the Lombardy Academy of Sciences and Letters)

Mauro Ceruti (Professor of Philosophy of Science, IULM University of Milan).

The call for the 2017/2018 edition Admission and application will be available from October 15, 2017 on www.loreal.it