The 2017 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Ceremony
19 November 2017
The 2017 ceremony was hosted at Bennelong Restaurant within the iconic Sydney Opera House. This stunning venue was the perfect location to celebrate our five exceptional Australian and New Zealand For Women in Science Fellows.
The 2017 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Ceremony
It was an honour to have Anna-Maria Arabia, Chief Executive of The Academy of Science as our guest speaker for the evening. Anna-Maria is a passionate advocate for science, social justice and gender equity, and our long-standing partnership with the Academy of Science is one that L'Oréal highly values.
The evening was full of celebration with Charlie Pickering as the MC. Charlie introduced our five Fellows, Matire, Jaclyn, Stephanie, Deborah and Jacq, who spoke of their scientific journey and future research. With our Fellow’s research focusing on critical and intriguing scientific questions, each had the opportunity to share with the audience the significance of their work and how this Fellowship will help to accelerate both their research and career.
Charlie asked Fellow, Deborah about her research on antibiotic resistance and what detrimental outcomes could result if we don’t address it. To which Deb responded:
“Unless action is taken to halt the practices that have allowed antimicrobial resistance to spread and ways are found to develop new types of antibiotics, we could return to the days when routine operations, simple wounds or straightforward infections could pose real threats to life, and the world could face the same risks as it did before Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928”
Charlie also asked Fellow and quantum physicist, Jacq about her experience as a mother of three boys whilst also a leading researcher in a discipline dominated by males. To which Jacq said:
“I would like to see a culture accepting of the idea that raising a family and maintaining a successful scientific career are not mutually exclusive.”
Country manager of L'Oréal Australia and New Zealand, Rodrigo Pizarro shared with us his and the L'Oréal group’s commitment for this program:
“We are proud that our program is part of the growing movement to further support women in science and make changes to the number of women at the most senior levels of the profession, and we believe that by acknowledging the exceptional research being conducted by female researchers in both Australia and New Zealand, we will better the future of scientific research and innovation.”
Following the formal ceremony, guests continued the celebrations at a cocktail reception. It was an inspiring evening, shining a light on five extraordinary scientists, and sharing the message that we must access every brilliant mind we have available, be they women or men.
L’Oréal was founded by a scientist. Without science…L’Oréal wouldn’t exist.
