Three exceptional women from Asia have been recognized at the 17th annual L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science award.

 Asian Scientist Newsroom | March 25, 2015 | Top News AsianScientist

 (Mar. 25, 2015) - Five leading women scientists and 15 promising young researchers were honored at the 17th L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Ceremony on March 18, 2015 in the historic Grand Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne University in Paris. This year's winners from Asia include the Asia-Pacific Laureate Professor Xie Yi from China and international rising talents Drs. Chan Yoke-Fun and Tran Ha-Lien Phuong from Malaysia and Vietnam, respectively.

Xie is a professor at the University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei working in the field of solid state and materials chemistry. She was honored for her significant contributions to creating new materials a few atoms thick with promising applications in conversion of heat or sunlight into electricity. Her work will greatly contribute to lessening pollution and boosting energy efficiency, and will open promising prospects for the future.

Hailing from the University of Malaya, Chan was honored for her project on the development of novel therapeutic peptides targeting host autophagy machinery against enterovirus A71 infection. Vietnam National University's Phuong was recognized for her project on the development of fucoidan-based polymeric micelles for cancer treatment and diagnostics.

"Today still, only 30 percent of the world's researchers are women. Prejudice and misconceptions still exist and overshadow women in science" explained Chairman of the L'Oréal Foundation Mr. Jean-Paul Agon in his opening speech.

For the past 17 years, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program has encouraged, promoted and honored women scientists all over the world. Each year, the program recognizes five leading women scientists, from each world region, who have made extraordinary discoveries in their fields, and grants fellowships to 236 researchers. Since the creation of the program, over 2,250 greatly talented women have been distinguished in over 110 countries.

http://www.asianscientist.com/2015/03/topnews/asians-bestowed-loreal-unesco-awards/