DOHA, Jan 21 (NNN-QNA) – Qatar won the LOreal-UNESCO Award for the year 2020, presented for distinguished women in the field of science.
The Award was presented to Dr. Isra Marei, post-doctoral associate in pharmacology, at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). She was recognised for her research towards the development of 3D vascular drug screening platforms, based on cord blood endothelial progenitor cells.
Speaking during a press conference yesterday, Secretary-General of Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Dr. Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti, said, receiving the LOreal-UNESCO Award came within the framework of joint efforts, cooperation and partnership between WCM-Q and UNESCO, with the aim of benefiting from the capabilities of the international organisation, in supporting and strengthening national capacities, and preparing Qatari cadres capable of managing development projects in the next stage.
Dr. Al Sulaiti encouraged everyone to apply for UNESCO prizes and other regional and international organisations, in order to raise high the name of Qatar, noting that LOreal-UNESCO Award for women, in the field of science, is one of UNESCO awards that aims to reward outstanding contributions of women scientists.
The Award is also one of the internationally recognised initiatives to support and encourage female STEM graduates, and one of the few selected programmes in the Middle East that has created an important platform that helps women succeed and highlight their achievements in the scientific fields.
For her part, Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Doha, Dr. Anna Paolini congratulated Dr. Isra Marei for winning the the LOreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Programme.
She noted that the biggest challenge for women is not the pursuit of excellence in the fields of science, but the pursuit of equal opportunities for leadership and career development, which is very important, if the global community wanted to achieve sustainable development agenda by 2030.– NNN-QNA
