Brazilian female scientists awarded by Unesco

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) announced today that seven Brazilian scientists and researchers are to be awarded for their remarkable work in a number of academic fields. They will receive a scholarship amounting to $13 thousand.

The 2018 L’Oréal-Unesco-ABC Award for Women in Science is currently in its 13th edition and is granted in partnership with the Brazilian Science Academy (ABC) to female scientists in Brazilian universities from several states.

The winners of the 2018 L’Oréal-Unesco-ABC Award for Women in Science – Unesco / All rights reserved

Elected under Sciences of Life were the works of scientists Ethel Wilhem, Angélica Vieira, Fernanda Cruz, and Sabrina Lisboa. Under Chemistry, the accolade went to Nathalia Bezerra. Luciana Lomonaco received the prize for Mathematics, and Jaqueline Soares for Physics.

Unesco explains that the jury selected works that attempt to find solutions to social, environmental, economic, and health-related issues. The award also recognizes remarkable achievements for gender quality in science.

Research on health

Fernanda Cruz, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), won the competition with her work on therapies for the treatment of respiratory conditions. Sabrina Lisboa, in turn, is dedicated to the post-trauma stress disorder and how it affects the brain.

Health among elders, the age group with the world’s fastest growing pace—one of the biggest challenges facing Brazil today—was the subject of the work by Ethel Wilhelm, from the University of Pelotas, in Rio Grande do Sul state.

Angélica Vieira, from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, chose to focus on a solution against resistance to antibiotics.

Women and scientists

The other scientists awarded were Jaqueline Soares, with a study on the use of soapstone in dental implants, and Luciana Lomonaco, from the University of São Paulo (USP), who expressed gratitude by saying it is possible to be both a woman and a scientist.

Nathalia Bezerra, from Pernambuco, northeast Brazil, also noted that gender should pose no difficulty when pursuing a career. Her research seeks a way to increase the durability of cement under Brazil’s several climates.

The Women in Science award this year saw a record-breaking number of applications—524 works, up 34 percent from 2017, Unesco reported.

The award ceremony is slated for October 4 at the L’Oréal headquarters, in Rio de Janeiro.