Thought Leadership

Women in Science: L’Oréal and UNESCO partnership supports female scientists Only 15% of science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector roles in the United Kingdom are currently filled by women, but the L’Oréal-UNESCO partnership has been looking to change that. Working on the premise that ‘the world needs science and science needs women’, nearly 20 years ago, L’Oréal and UNESCO began a programme that has since recognised and supported over 2000 scientists in over 100 countries. In 2007, the UK and Ireland fellowships were launched. Research Features found out more about this year’s winners and the ongoing programme.

n 3rd May 2017 the 10th annual (University of Oxford; haematology) and L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Dr Priya Subramanian (University of Leeds; Ireland ‘For Women in Science’ mathematics). awards were held at the Royal Society in London. The Dr Radha Boya is a nanoscientist who is awards are part of a wider L’Oréal-UNESCO looking to produce atomically thin channels Oprogramme which aims to encourage and through layers of two-dimensional materials back women working in the UK science, such as graphene. ‘Sieves’ like this can be technology, engineering and mathematics used for filtration for periods of months (STEM) sector, an area currently dominated using water, but become quickly blocked by men. The prize money awarded to the when using air. Her research is examining winners, can be spent in any way needed as the relationship between the channels and part of their research, be that equipment, field the liquid used as the main component trips or childcare. for filtration, in order to find whether other solutions would alter the interaction. At the presentation, five promising UK scientists won the fellowships of flexible Dr Annie Curtis is an immunologist funding worth £15,000 in order to continue researching how the power of our internal their postdoctoral research in fields as body clock might be harnessed to control diverse as haematology and mathematics. inflammation. She hopes her study of Chosen from a pool of nearly 300 applicants 500,000 patients will help explain why the five winners were: Dr Radha Boya people are more prone to inflammation (University of Manchester; nanoscience), at particular times of the day and how Dr Annie Curtis (Royal College of Surgeons disruptions to our body clock (e.g., shift in Ireland; immunology), Dr Manju Kurian work, chronic jet lag, exposure to light at (University College London, Great Ormond night) could result in an increased risk of Street; neurology), Dr Bethan Psaila inflammatory disease.

The prize money can be spent in any way needed by the winners as part of their research

22 Thought Leadership

Chair of the Jury Professor Dame Carol Robinson (middle) with the five 2017 winners. From left to Dr Manju Kurian is a geneticist researching right: Dr Kurian, Dr Boya, Dr Curtis, Dr Psaila and Dr the possible genetic causes of cerebral Subramanian. palsy. Although the condition has in the past been associated with birth injury, many children actually have a faulty gene causing their symptoms. In a preliminary study, she and the important place science has in the found a genetic cause in half of the children world. It acknowledges that still to this day, assessed and was able in some instances to statistically there are much fewer women in identify targeted treatments that have led science and we must do all we can to help to significant improvements. Some of the change this. disabled children have even regained the ability to walk without assistance. What does the future hold for the L’Oréal- UNESCO campaign? Dr Bethan Psaila is a haematologist We will continue to run our fellowships and for investigating the role of blood cells 2018, we are launching an online community (megakaryocytes) in bone marrow in the rare to connect our fellows all around the world but fatal disease myelofibrosis. Most patients with free training and personal development survive less than five years after diagnosis and resources. As well as the training, it will also around 20% develop blood cancer. There is offer the chance for the fellows to build a no current treatment which cures or improves supportive network with other women in survival but Dr Psaila hopes that a better science. This came about from conversations understanding of how the disease develops at with many of our winners who say that being a a genetic level could help in the development woman in science can often be quite isolating; of more successful treatments. we want to help them build a broad network of peers. Dr Priya Subramanian is a mathematician examining mathematical recipes for never- What needs to be done to ensure that repeating quasicrystals. She is especially women continue to enter STEM education interested in never-repeating patterns and careers? because they have an order but no I think having as many touchpoints as possible repeatability. Quasicrystals with atoms and along the talent pipeline is imperative to molecules in such an arrangement might need ensure we are engaging as many young less energy to assemble and could therefore people as possible in science, and then as offer advantages in manufacturing, insulation from a shortage of female role models for founded the For Women in Science busier work/life balance; that is why our award tell us about L’Oréal’s new partnership with we move up through to key drop off points and photonic devices. young children to a lack of support once international programme to recognise the is flexible funding that can be used for their the charity Education and Employers which for women, we have supportive programmes on their chosen career path.” Professor achievements of exceptional female scientists work or even for childcare to help minimise runs the ‘Inspiring the Future’ programme, such as our fellowships. In addition to the five fellows, two PhD Dame Carol Robinson, who is Chair of the and award them with fellowships to help those barriers that can on occasion prevent a and its campaign? students (Amanda Dalby from the University Jury and a L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in further their research. In support of the career in STEM. We recognise that children as young as six- • If you would like to find out more about of Cambridge and Ellen Dorothea Moss from Science International Laureate added that, international programme L’Oréal markets years-old can rule out future job roles based the ‘For Women in Science’ campaign, Newcastle University) were selected as poster “These awards are well known in the science around the world run national fellowship For our readers, what type of candidates on gender. We understand it is imperative programmes and awards by L’Oréal and competition winners and five runners up were community and are always fiercely contested programmes. In the UK and Ireland, we have would be eligible for a L’Oréal-UNESCO that primary school-aged children can hear UNESCO partnership, please visit their awarded £1000 prizes: Dr Eleanor Raffan because of the vital support they provide.” run our fellowships for the past ten years, and fellowship award and how can they apply? about a myriad of careers and job roles and website at www.womeninscience.co.uk/ (University of Cambridge; genetics), Dr Sarah they offer a personal flexible funding award to The applications are open to female see women working in professions such as Fiddyment (University of York; biochemistry), Research Features caught up with Karina five early career researchers each year. candidates who are hosted at a UK or Ireland science so that they are able to be broad- Dr Emma Chapman (; O’Gorman, Head of Corporate Social university and have less than ten years minded about their future opportunities ), Dr Alyssa-Jennifer Avestro Responsibility at L'Oréal UK and Ireland to find How do the annual fellowship programmes/ postdoctoral work experience. as they grow up. Our Women in Science (; organic chemistry) and Dr out some more about the L’Oréal-UNESCO awards by L’Oréal support outstanding campaign is calling on speakers to go into Contact Sarah Rasmussen (University of Cambridge; programme. female researchers and promote the increase What are your personal achievements and primary schools and help ignite the spark in E: [email protected] mathematics). of women working in STEM professions? highlights at L’Oréal? the next generation of scientists. Over 150 W: www.womeninscience.co.uk/ Can you tell us a little bit more about L’Oréal- It is widely reported that the biggest drop A highlight for me has been creating volunteers who have signed up already will Many of this year’s winners with young families UNESCO, its core mission and heritage? off point for women in STEM is in the early and building strategic corporate social help us reach 50,000 primary school children said that they would use the award to help It was 18 years ago that L’Oréal and UNESCO part of their careers, often coinciding with a responsibility activities for L’Oréal that over the next academic year. If you would better balance time between their career utilise the brand purpose to make a positive like to read more you can do so here: www. and their family, whilst others said that the difference in the areas of science education educationandemployers.org/programmes/ funding will help them realise collaboration or and confidence through beauty. inspiring-women-campaign/ travel ambitions. When asked, the Scientific Children as young as six-years- Director at L’Oréal UK and Ireland Dr Steve When it comes to teaching science, early How does the L’Oréal-UNESCO campaign Shiel, said he thought the programme old can rule out future job roles childhood educators have a tremendous for Women in Science ensure that it is not was very important because “Women still impact and influence on shaping the negative towards men? face significant barriers to STEM careers, based on gender thoughts and opinions of children – can you The campaign celebrates science as a whole

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