PARIS, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Last night, for the 19^th edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards Ceremony at the Maison de la Mutualité, the international scientific community gathered to honour and celebrate five exceptional women scientists and their accomplishments in the physical sciences. The event was opened by Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO and M. Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L'Oréal and Chairman of the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation.  Read the full press release here: http://fondationloreal.com/documents/9e75d9f5-f216-4afa-95a5-ad4fd0747852/download?lang=en

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The 2017 Laureates: Women At The Cutting-Edge  

The 2017 Edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards Ceremony celebrated 5 eminent women scientists and their excellence, creativity and intelligence. Each woman received an Award of 100,000 € to commend their scientific contributions in the fields of quantum physics, physical sciences and astrophysics.

VISUAL 

These 5 exceptional women, from 5 different world regions, are each contributing in their own way to change the world for the better:

Professor Niveen M. KHASHAB (Saudi Arabia), for designing novel nanoparticles that could improve early detection of disease.

Her work in analytical chemistry could lead to more targeted and personalized medical treatment. 

Professor Michelle SIMMONS (Australia), for pioneering ultra-fast quantum computers.

Her work on atomic-scale transistors could give birth to tomorrow's computers. 

Professor Nicola A. Spaldin (Switzerland), for reinventing magnetic materials for next-generation electronic devices.

Her research on multiferroic materials could lead to a new generation of electronic equipment components. 

Professor Maria Teresa Ruiz (Chile), for discovering a new type of celestial body, halfway between a star and a planet, hidden in the darkness of the universe.

Her observations on brown dwarfs could answer the universal question of whether there is life on other planets. 

Professor Zhenan Bao (United States), for inventing skin-inspired electronic materials.

Her research on flexible, stretchable and conductive materials could improve the quality of life of patients with prostheses. 

Jean-Paul Agon highlighted the power of these women scientists, as well as all of the women scientists who have been celebrated this year, in his opening speech: "A shared, controlled science, at the service of the world's population, is able to meet the major challenges of the twenty-first century, and our researchers are the proof. They are the ones that give science all its greatness."

Contacts:
L'Oréal Foundation
Ludivine DESMONTS-MORNET
ludivine.desmonts-mornet@loreal.com 
+33-(0)1-47-56-77-47

UNESCO
Vincent DEFOURNY  
v.defourny@unesco.org
+33-(0)-1-45-68-12-11

Agence MATRIOCHKA for the L'Oréal Foundation
Delphine HILAIRE
delphine.hilaire@mtrchk.com
+33-(0)-6-22-68-29-64
Carly NEWMAN
carly.newman@mtrchk.com
+33-(0)-6-65-00-41-66

SOURCE The L'Oréal Foundation