For Women in Science 2023

L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science 2023 Supports Three Promising Researchers from Singapore in the fields of Material Engineering, Biotechnology, and Sustainable Chemistry

• Three promising women researchers emerged as winners out of 42 applicants this year
• Each winner will receive an endowment worth S$10,000 to advance their research
• The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science aims to help bridge the gender gap for women scientists

SINGAPORE, Wednesday, 22^nd  November 2023 – L’Oréal Singapore celebrated three outstanding women researchers in the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science 2022 program. In an awards ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur today, Dr. Leow Wan Ru, Dr. Yang Le, and Dr. Xue Shifeng emerged as the three deserving beneficiaries, each receiving S$10,000 to advance their research.

Dr. Wan Ru is currently a Scientist at the Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), researching the use of renewable energy to power chemical reactions. Dr. Le Yang focuses on the research of PROFESS or Printed Organic Flexible Electronics and Sensors. Her decision to delve into the field of organic and flexible electronics was driven by a deep-seated conviction for innovation and a desire to contribute to a more sustainable and user-centric future. Meanwhile, Dr Xue’s research is centered on the study of epigenetic repression in development and disease, focusing on human congenital disorders. In layman terms, she studies how genes turn on and off, in embryonic development and in disease.

Tomas Hruska, Managing Director of L’Oréal Singapore, said “With science as one of our foundational pillars, L’Oréal is dedicated to fostering the potential of girls and women in STEM fields. Our commitment is evident through the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program, where we recognize and celebrate outstanding women researchers to help bridge gender gap. By doing so, we aim to encourage women to pursue their aspirations in science because the world needs science, and science needs women.”

The L’Oréal-UNESCO Fellowship for Women in Science provides endowment to help women scientists advance their research – which is in line with the L’Oréal Fondation’s three-pronged mission of promoting the progress of inclusive beauty, scientific research, and climate change sustainability. This year marks the 25th global anniversary of the esteemed program.

A global initiative by the Fondation L’Oréal, the program was launched in Singapore back in 2009. It has to-date assisted 27 women scientists locally and disbursed over S$270,000 worth of endowment.

L’Oreal Singapore partnered with Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) for this year’s program where the esteemed Professor Andy Hor, the Deputy Chief Executive (Research), served as the President Jury. The beneficiaries were selected after stringent assessments by a panel of juries comprising of established researchers such as Professor Andy Hor; Professor Liu Bin, Deputy President (Research and Technology) from National University of Singapore; Professor Lam Yeng Ming, Chair of School of Materials Science and Engineering from Nanyang Technological University Singapore; Professor Archan Misra, Vice Provost (Research) from Singapore Management University; Dr Wan Yue, Deputy Executive Director of Genome Institute of Singapore from A*STAR; Professor Yang Hui Ying from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD); and Associate Professor Low Hong Yee, Head of Pillar, Engineering Product Development (EPD) from SUTD.

For more information, please visit - https://www.forwomeninscience.com/.