Dubai, UAE, March 26, 2016:   L’ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Fellowships is seeking worthy candidates for this year’s program. The yearly initiative is in partnership with Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates and under the patronage of H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, President of Zayed University.

L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science was the very first program of its kind, founded 18 years ago in the firm belief that the “World needs Science, and Science needs Women”.

Each year, the program honors four talented, young, Arab female researchers for the quality of their research work, encouraging them to pursue a brilliant career in science in the GCC and Yemen.

Supporting women in the research field since 1998, L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science has recognized and honored more than 2,500 exceptional female scientists from 112 countries. By providing them with fellowships at crucial points in their careers, it also aims to combat stereotypes and pre-conceived notions and therefore helps promote gender equality for women working in scientific fields. 

In a collaborative effort by UNESCO and L’Oréal, in close cooperation with Zayed University in the UAE and under the patronage of its president, H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, these fellowships assist in empowering Arab female scientists. The 2016 L’ORÉAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE MIDDLE EAST FELLOWSHIPS place a serious mark of recognition on the achievements and contributions to scientific research and progression fostered by these women, and also celebrate the role they play in their countries’ development. 

Four fellowships of €20,000 each will be given out in 2016 to four Arab female scientists holding a PhD in the fields of Life Sciences or Physical Sciences, or as PhD candidate (pursuing research leading to a PhD degree) and residing or working in: the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

In order to apply and for more details, researchers should visit www.fwis.fr and submit the required documents and details between the 21st of February and the 1st of June 2016. 

All applications will be evaluated by a Pan Arab panel of eminent scientists, chaired by Professor Mouin Hamzé.