UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
11/04/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/05/2024 04:41
Recognizing the Achievements of Talented Young Women Scientists: Researchers Honored with Prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO Caribbean Awards
Two scientists joined the ranks as the newest L'Oréal-UNESCO Young Talent Awardees in the Caribbean within the framework of the AAAS Caribbean Region Annual Meeting held at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico on 25 and 26 October 2024. Dr. Savanna Lloyd and PhD candidate Gillian A. Rowe were celebrated for their achievements, as part of the ongoing efforts by L'Oréal Caribe and UNESCO to continue recognizing outstanding Caribbean scientists.
Now in its second year, the program received applications from across the region from early career and doctoral candidates engaged in specialized research and projects focused on several scientific fields. The award, Dr. Lloyd shared gave her newfound confidence in her own ability to contribute to scientific collaborations.
Without the basic scientific tools and resources, I felt I was not in a position strategic enough to contribute to a project. I did not feel ready. But after discovering that I received the award, I knew I was
Dr. Savanna Lloyd 2024 L'oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science Caribbean Awardee
Ms. Rowe also stressed the potentially transformative impact of the award on her career and the broader scientific community in the Caribbean.
This is uniquely allowing women at the pre-doctoral career level to receive critical support from a global network, and it is extraordinary for each recipient to be inspired by experienced scientists with a wealth of knowledge.
Gillian A. Rowe PhD candidate & 2024 L'oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science Caribbean Awardee
Both winners are from the University of the West Indies (UWI). Dr. Lloyd is a Lecturer within the Department of Physics at UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica and Ms. Rowe is a Doctoral Candidate in the Faculty of Food and Agriculture of UWI St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago.
The awardees show that Caribbean science has two shining lights from the University of the West Indies
Prof. Marcia RoyeDirector of Graduate Studies and Research at UWI
Experts agreed that initiatives like this help to boost interest in science and raise the profile of science per se but also of scientists in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean needs 3 Bs: Bricks, Bytes/Bites, and Brains, to bolster the STEM enterprise to drive sustainable growth
Dr. Marvadeen Singh-WilmotCaribbean Academy of Sciences
Juan José Del Valle
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science partnership has, for over 25 years, provided opportunities for talented scientists at various stages of their careers around the globe. While the partnership has made significant strides to ensure that gender is not a barrier to scientific inquiry and leadership, Danielle Cliche, Director a.i.at the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, used the opportunity to highlight the Organization's call to action to reduce the gender gap in science.
Dr. Cliche explained that no significant progress has occurred over the past two decades concerning the number of girls and women studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects at all levels of education. She also noted disparities in salaries, grants, and awards available to women scientists, and mentioned that this was actually thecase in the Caribbean despite almost reaching gender parity in STEM.
Gender bias during early childhood discourages girls from going into STEM, and gender stereotypes about girls' abilities and performance in STEM are prevalent in academia. Challenging these biases and dismantling systemic inequalities is essential. This starts with parents and schoolteachers, and it also means changing policies and improving working conditions in academic institutions. We need to become mentors and support all young women scientists
Danielle ClicheDirector a.i. at the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean
Juan José Del Valle
Gilles Delaunay, General Manager of L'Oréal Caribe, emphasized that it is a collective responsibility to inspire young women in STEM and provide the necessary resources, fostering both career growth and a culture of innovation, while cautioning that women are still heavily underrepresented in STEM fields and at leadership levels within STEM.
Their brilliance, tenacity, grit, and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of knowledge is awe-inspiring. Women are breaking barriers, shattering glass ceilings, and leaving a lasting mark on the scientific landscape
Gilles DelaunayGeneral Manager of L'Oréal Caribe
The Caribbean, often recognized for its excellence in STEM has also seen great women from the region who are leaders, visionaries, and trailblazers reshaping the future. The L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards exemplify the commitment to bringing generations of women together in a network for scientific discovery and innovation. This recognition not only celebrates the achievements of Dr. Lloyd and Ms. Rowe but also underscores the critical role of international support in advancing scientific research and development in the Caribbean.
To further celebrate the achievements and contributions of women scientists across the Caribbean, a special video was produced for the ceremony. This video, which compiles profiles of these inspiring women, can be viewed here. We kindly invite you to take a look at the recent UNESCO study Changing the equation: Securing STEM futures for women. And we also invite you to fill out the global survey on STEM to better understand the motivations and challenges faced by studentsand professionalsin scientific fields, addressing issues such as harassment, leadership barriers, and pay gaps. The data collected will contribute to the preparation of a global report on the status of women in STEM in 2025.