Four outstanding female researchers were honored yesterday evening for their groundbreaking contributions to the field of science as part of the prestigious “For Women in Science” scholarship program. The program, a cooperation between L’Oréal Austria, the Austrian UNESCO Commission and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and has been promoting scientific excellence and equality for women in research for years.
The award ceremony at the Austrian Academy of Sciences was moderated by Arabella Kiesbauer and offered around 150 guests from science, politics, business and society a varied supporting program. In addition to the awarding of the sponsorship awards, keynote speeches and a panel discussion rounded off the event. The event was musically accompanied by the Austrian pianist and conductor Dorothy Khadem-Missagh, who is known for her innovative concert productions and promoting the visibility of women in the music industry.
“For Women in Science” is part of a renowned global program that was launched in 1998 by the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO and has also been established in Austria since 2007. During this time, a total of 71 funding awards were awarded as part of the
Austrian program awarded. More than 4,400 female scientists worldwide have been awarded the prize, including seven later Nobel Prize winners.
From hair physics to heart health: cutting-edge interdisciplinary research
This year, the awards, each endowed with 25,000 euros, were awarded to four outstanding female researchers whose groundbreaking projects in the fields of medicine, materials science and neurobiology are impressive:
BY Dr. Catarina Czibula(Graz University of Technology) studies the mechanical properties of human hair at different temperatures using non-contact light scattering techniques.
Valentina Sladky, PhD(Medical University of Innsbruck) is dedicated to studying polyploidy in mammalian tissues and researching new therapeutic approaches to combat diseases such as cancer.
Dr. Magdalena Boch, MSc(University of Vienna) analyzes the neural mechanisms by which dogs and humans process social stimuli in order to better understand the evolution of social skills.
Lisa Seekircher, PhD(Medical University of Innsbruck) researches the connection between sleep behavior and cardiovascular diseases and develops gender-specific approaches to prevention and diagnosis.
Strengthen excellence and equal opportunities in science
The awards not only offer financial support, but also access to an international network that helps the award winners to further advance their academic careers. The For Women in Science program aims to raise awareness of the significant contributions of women in science and highlight existing barriers. Despite the impressive achievements, the proportion of women in research and development in Austria is just 24.95 percent, according to the Austrian Public Employment Service. Women are still significantly underrepresented in science – a clear sign that further measures are needed to ensure equal opportunities.
This is exactly where the “For Women in Science” program comes in, by supporting young researchers in science at a key point in their careers, increasing their visibility and highlighting ongoing structural inequalities. Through financial support and an international network, the award winners have the opportunity to advance their research and at the same time become role models for the next generation of scientists.
““For Women in Science” offers more than financial support. Our goal is to break down barriers and create new opportunities that further advance women in science – and thus science itself,” describes Edzard Meenen, Country Coordinator of L’Oréal Austria, the motivation for the commitment. As the world’s leading cosmetics company, L’Oréal invests around 1 billion euros in research every year and employs around 4,000 people in its laboratories worldwide, 64 percent of whom are women.
Dr. Sabine Haag, President of the Austrian UNESCO Commissionadded:
“Promoting education, science, culture and communication is the core of UNESCO’s mission. As part of its mandate, UNESCO advocates for sustainable development in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Given the complex challenges of our time, no talent should be left unused. The “For Women in Science” program shares this claim by supporting outstanding female scientists and emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities in research. The four award winners are an inspiring example for the next generation of female researchers.”
“Austria needs the best minds in research to master the challenges of the future. ‘For Women in Science’ makes an invaluable contribution by supporting outstanding female scientists and giving them the recognition they deserve. Their commitment, including as science ambassadors, and their expertise are essential for the progress of our society,” emphasizes to the. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Polaschek, Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research.
Univ.-Prof.in DIin Dr.in techn. Ulrike Diebold, Vice President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), concludes: “The Austrian Academy of Sciences congratulates the winners of ‘For Women in Science’ and reiterates its commitment to promoting women in research. Your scientific excellence is inspiring!” (Ga1)
background
The “For Women in Science” program is a global partnership between the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO that was launched in 1998. Since then, more than 4,400 women scientists have been honored worldwide, seven of whom went on to win a Nobel Prize, including Katalin Karikó and Anne L’Huillier. The program was introduced in Germany in 2007 and realigned from 2024 in cooperation with the German Humboldt Network eV. The prizes are under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Education and are awarded annually to four outstanding female scientists who have distinguished themselves through their work in the experimental natural sciences.
Further information at:
https://www.loreal.com/de-at/austria/pages/commitments/fwis/
https://www.forwomeninscience.com/
About L’Oréal
For 115 years, L’Oréal, the global leader in beauty products, has been dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling the beauty needs of consumers around the world. Our goal to create beauty that moves the world defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our diverse portfolio of 37 international brands and the ambitious sustainability commitments of our L’Oréal for the Future program, we offer everyone around the world the best in quality, effectiveness, safety, honesty and responsibility by celebrating beauty in its infinite diversity .
With more than 90,000 dedicated employees, a balanced geographical presence and sales across all distribution channels (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, brand and travel retail), the group has a turnover of 41 in 2023 .18 billion euros. With 20 research centers in 11 countries worldwide and a dedicated research and innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 6,400 digital talents, L’Oréal is working to actively shape the future of beauty and become a beauty tech powerhouse.
L’Oréal is also the market leader in cosmetics in Switzerland. The group is represented at two locations here. L’Oréal employs around 3,000 people in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
About UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded in 1945 and is based in Paris. It advocates international cooperation in the areas of education, science, culture and communication to promote peace and security. UNESCO believes that peace must be built on the spiritual and moral solidarity of humanity. Today it comprises 194 member states.
UNESCO’s aim is to improve access to education and science through international cooperation, to ensure the protection of cultural heritage and to contribute to solving global challenges. The
The organization is particularly committed to equal opportunities and equality, as many structural disadvantages, especially for women, begin with access to education.