L’Oreal – For Women in Science
Graptopetalum paraguayense – we bet you have no idea what is this? Well, remember that name because this is a Taiwanese plant that may prove to be the cure for COVID-19 and it is a Bulgarian scientist who is on the verge of this scientific breakthrough. The researcher is called Nina Stoyanova-Nankova and she is one of the millions of women in science who are leading ground-breaking researches globally but do not get enough credit for it.
The fact that less than 4% of Nobel Prizes for Science have been awarded to women proves this beyond appeal. The statistics is discouraging as well when it comes to women in science in general as only 33% of researchers globally are female (2021 UNESCO report).
Namely to fight with such discrepancies, in 1998 L’Oreal and UNESCO established the socially responsible global initiative For Women in Science and in 2010 in partnership with Sofia University they launched the program in Bulgaria. It aims to provide recognition and financial support to women like Nina who through their work contribute to the development of science and strive to change the world.
2021 was a special year for the program in Bulgaria, because the number of recognized ladies reached 30 and the allocated award fund – 150,000 euros! In addition, the projects of the awarded women were beyond impressive and proved once again the crucial need for female scientists to be supported. Or as the motto of the program goes: the world needs science and science needs women!