The L'Oréal – UNESCO »For women in science« national program has been running in Slovenia since 2006. In those 18 years it has received more than 400 applications from young scientists and, including this year's endowment recipients, supported 52 outstanding young scientists who carry out their research in the field of biology, medicine, pharmacy, biochemistry and physics.
This year, the Evaluation Group and the National Commission granted the EUR 5,000 to: Tina Arh, an experimental physicist who researches the magnetism of quantum materials, one of the most vibrant fields in modern solid-state physics, which could represent an important platform for the development of a new generation of quantum technologies, and today their understanding requires the use of state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods.
Urša Čerček, a biochemist who is dedicated to researching neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with the goal of developing better therapies for the treatment of diseases that completely change the lives of the patient and their relatives and are a burden on the healthcare system.
And Tjaša Rijavec, a chemist who deals with heritage science, an interdisciplinary field of studying cultural and natural heritage, where she focuses on the processes of decomposition of cultural heritage materials with the aim of preventing or slowing down the processes of decomposition of priceless museum objects.
A third of researchers in Slovenia are women, which places the country on average among EU countries, latest data show. The ratio of female researchers was the highest in the field of medicine (61%), and the lowest in the STEM field (20%). Among funded research projects in 2022, 41% were led by women. The highest rate of selected projects led by women is recorded in the field of biotechnical sciences (59%), and the lowest - again - in the STEM field (25%).
»Slovenia is a science-friendly country, but there is no doubt that scientists, especially women in science, still need encouragement and support to fully develop their scientific potential. And this is precisely the desire and purpose of the successful cooperation between L'Oréal and UNESCO. Through the program "For Women in Science" we have been recognizing outstanding young female researchers and scientists and giving them a hand on their scientific path for a quarter of a century, in Slovenia for 18 years," emphasized Irena Šarić Dombaj, Corporate Affairs and Engagement Director for L'Oreal Adria - Balkan, in her opening address. She added: "I am confident they will be an example for many other girls who today are deciding on their future career.«
Diplomas were endowed to selected three female scientists by the Minister for Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr. Igor Papič. He emphasized: »We still have a lot of work ahead of us if we don’t want to continue losing the potential in knowledge that female scientists can contribute. Therefore, the new Slovenian scientific research and innovation strategy unequivocally places gender equality as a central principle. Among other things, it pays special attention to incorporating equal gender opportunities at all stages of the research process. One of the strategy’s goals is also to create more inclusive policies, programs, and practices to eliminate gender inequalities in employment, advancement, and the retention of female researchers in scientific activities. In the future, we intend to establish a broader professional discussion on ways and the significance of integrating a gender perspective into research funding.«
The President of the National Committee for the L’Oréal – UNESCO program »For Women in Science«, Prof. Dr. Alenka Malej, highlighted that: “there is some symbolism that L'Oréal, who set beauty as its mission, supports women in science. Usually, beauty is associated primarily with some other creativity of people - art. But many well-known researchers also see beauty in science, namely the beauty of feelings when we discover something new through research. I believe that many researchers know this beauty."
