The L’Oreal-UNESCO ‘For Women In Science’ program, coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated on February 11, has awarded prizes to five Spanish projects developed by junior researchers 40 years old, each with an endowment of 15,000 euros that will be used to continue financing their advances.Developed by researchers under the age of 40, each award has an endowment of 15,000 euros that will be used to continue financing their progress
These studies range from the development of new methods for obtaining and accumulating renewable energies such as green hydrogen, to the early detection of eye diseases, through the study of the properties of neutrinos, which would allow to expand the knowledge of the universe and development of new technologies, and the application of mathematics in geophysics to better understand the functioning of the planet.
‘For Women In Science’ has been present in Spain for 21 years, since the first international prize was awarded to Margarita Salas. Since then, it has recognized 72 researchers in Spain and has awarded grants worth a total of 1.2 million euros. As a novelty this year, the program launches the #QueremosCiencia campaign to make the need for STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) visible in the digital environment. Among the awarded research is that of María Retuerto, from the Institute of Catalysis and Petroleochemistry (ICP-CSIC). María is studying creating a technology to accumulate renewable energy in the form of green hydrogen (H2), thus contributing to combat climate change.
For her part, scientist Sonia Ruiz Raga, from the Institut Catala de Nanociencia i Nanotecnología (ICN2-UAB-CSIC) investigates to create devices for converting sunlight to clean energy in an effective, cheap, durable and sustainable way. Specifically, it investigates the development of photovoltaic technology with hybrid materials that facilitate the use of renewable energies globally.
Another of the winners has been Clara Cuesta, from the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), whose work studies the properties of neutrinos, key particles in the universe, to better understand their functioning, the origin of matter and the disappearance of antimatter. Knowledge that will allow the development of cutting-edge technological applications in the field of industry.
Jezabel Curbelo’s research from the Department of Mathematics of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) analyzes the evolution of fluids in nature through the equations that model them to better understand the dynamics of the interior of the Earth and other planets. Its objective is to develop mathematical tools of application in geophysics with great applications in the near future.
Finally, the scientist from the Institute of Optics (IO-CSIC), Judith Birkenfeld, investigates for the development of a tool for the early detection of keratoconus, an ocular disease of the cornea that affects 1 in every 2,000 people in Spain and usually appear between 16 and 25 years old. Early detection is key to slowing its development, reducing the need to transplant the cornea, and improving the quality of life for thousands of people.
More than 3,000 scientists supported by the program Created in 1998, the L’Oreal-UNESCO International Prize ‘For Women in Science’ recognizes every year five eminent scientists from five regions of the world. Present in 117 countries, the program has recognized 3,600 scientists from its origins, such as the Spanish Margarita Salas and winners of a Nobel Prize. Alternating every two years between life sciences and materials sciences, these exceptional researchers, selected by a jury of internationally renowned experts, are awarded a prize of 100,000 euros to finance their research and that they continue to contribute exceptionally to the progress of science.
