Peruvian female scientists Norma Salinas and Luisa Vetter were awarded the national "For Women in Science" recognition, granted by the L'Oréal-UNESCO partnership and Peru's State-run National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (Concytec).
The award seeks to recognize women researchers who, through the scope of their work, have contributed to overcoming today's global challenges.
Dr. Salinas received her Ph.D. in Geography and the Environment at UK’s Oxford University, whereas Dr. Vetter specialized in History at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
Both winners received S/45,000 (about US$13,867) in recognition of their research work.
"Women researchers contribute to providing science-based solutions, and this kind of recognition encourages them to believe from a young age that there is a space for them in science to develop and make a difference," Peru's Health Minister Patricia Garcia affirmed.
On the other hand, UNESCO Science Sector Coordinator Ignacio Cancino stressed the agency's alliance with L'Oréal is based on their concern for gender equality.
"Highlighting women's role in science is an ongoing priority for us, hence the relevance of this national award," he noted.
Lastly, Concytec President Gisella Orjeda underlined "female professionals'" point of view can produce richer, more productive scientific research work."
She added "knowledge will be most useful when research and experiments include the female perspective and gender dimension."
Awardees
Norma Salinas, a Peruvian researcher specialized in plant ecology and the biogeography of the Andes, has conducted over ten studies in this field. These include a study on the carbon cycle of tropical forest plots in Peru's southwestern Amazonia, as well as the effect of climate warming on tropical forests.
On the other hand, Luisa Vetter is the first archaeologist to receive this national award.
"Increasing the visibility of women professionals is important. I am honored to be the researcher who has managed to open the doors for social sciences [in Peru]," she said during the award ceremony.
Vetter has carried out research based on the analysis of metallurgic furnaces at Curamba Inca site in Apurimac, Peru, as well as the comparison of pre-Hispanic and modern molds to identify parallels or differences regarding their production processes.
(END) NDP/ART/DHT/MVB