Beirut: Under the theme "The world needs science, and science needs women," the L'Or©al-UNESCO "For Women in Science" program honored six outstanding young researchers from the Levant at its eleventh edition. The ceremony took place at the Middle East Airlines Training Center in Beirut on Thursday, February 13, 2025, under the high patronage and in the presence of Mr. Ziad Makary, Former Minister of Information.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, these young scientists were selected from among a hundred candidates and embody the strength of women in science in the Levant region. Representing a wide range of disciplines, from psychology to molecular biology, they demonstrate their ability to overcome the specific challenges of the region. Hailing from Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine, these researchers demonstrate the essential role of women in scientific progress and inspire future generations to build a better future.
During the ceremony, Mr. Ziad Makary emphasized the celebration of elite female talent among the brightest in the Levant. He stated that the L'Or©al-UNESCO 'For Women in Science' award highlights the vital role of women in advancing science in the Arab region. The program is seen as a crucial platform for fostering innovation to address the challenges facing societies. He particularly commended the recurring success of young Lebanese researchers, which demonstrates their resilience and excellence despite Lebanon's exceptional difficulties. The award is seen not just as recognition but as an investment in the region's bright future and a beacon of hope for a new generation of remarkable women scientists.
The Levant program is part of the global L'Or©al-UNESCO "For Women in Science" initiative, launched in 1998 by the L'Or©al Foundation in partnership with UNESCO. Over the past 26 years, the program has honored more than 4,400 distinguished female researchers and 132 global laureates across more than 140 countries, with seven laureates receiving the Nobel Prize over the years.
Launched in Lebanon in 2014 in partnership with the National Council for Scientific Research, the program aims to enhance the status of Arab women scientists from the Levant and recognize their fundamental role in contributing to the region's development. The program also encourages female researchers to become role models, inspiring the rising generations of Arab women scientists, particularly those hesitant to pursue scientific research as a career. Since its inception, the program has supported more than 60 young female researchers at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels, striving to promote the representation of women in science and strengthen their participation in leadership and decision-making roles.
During the ceremony, Emilie Wahab Harb, Managing Director of L'Or©al Liban, congratulated the winners, highlighting the exceptional talent of these young scientists as crucial for the future. She emphasized that the program goes beyond recognizing talent, investing in resilience, and empowering women scientists to overcome obstacles and drive innovation globally. Harb affirmed that the focus is on opportunity, aiming for gender to be a source of strength, not a barrier, in science.
From her end, H.E. Dr. Tamara El Zein, Minister of Environment and former Secretary-General of the National Council for Scientific Research and Head of the Jury, highlighted the need to understand the relationship between women's withdrawal from scientific human capital and their potential to access knowledge and research outcomes. She emphasized that the issue of equality is not about numbers but fundamental human rights.
The ceremony, hosted by journalist Raneem Bou Khzam, welcomed more than 300 attendees, including diplomatic, social, and economic figures, as well as representatives from academic, scientific, and research institutions, members of non-governmental organizations, journalists, media professionals, and the L'Or©al Lebanon team and partners.