L’Oréal, UNESCO Honor Women in Science

PARIS — The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards served as a powerful platform for women in science to defend gender equality in their respective professional domains The 17th annual edition of the event, held in the Grand Amphitheater of the Sorbonne on Wednesday night, saw five women scientist honored for their discoveries and contributions to science. Representing North America, Molly S. Shoichet – recognized for her pioneering approach to biomaterial development to regenerate damaged nerve tissue and her development of a new method to deliver medication to the spinal cord and brain – delivered a rousing speech on the obstacles facing women in science. “Liberté, égalité, fraternité, these words define France and in fact the Western world, but what about sororité?” she said. “The pipeline is leaky after high school, with few women pursuing careers in engineering. The reasons are many — perhaps insufficient numbers of women role models; perhaps insufficient numbers of men valuing women in careers in science. There are certainly subtleties in language and behavior that carry an undertone of discrimination. This award has changed that landscape.” Representing Africa and the Arab States, Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli, the initiative’s first-ever Moroccan laureate, was recognized for her role in the

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