AMSTERDAM, April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Research excellence nominations accepted through September 15 to support research, build capacity and inspire a new generation of women scientists in the developing world

The Elsevier Foundation, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world announced today their call for award nominations for the 2014 Elsevier Foundation Awards recognizing talented early career women scientists from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. This year's awards program will focus on chemistry. The five winning scientists will be celebrated for their research excellence, and receive a cash prize of US$5,000 in addition to a year's complementary access to ScienceDirect and all-expenses paid attendance at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in February 2014. Nominations will be accepted from April 10th through September 15, 2013. The award winners will be announced in February 2014 at the AAAS annual conference.

Each year, the Elsevier Foundation Award Program, in collaboration with OWSD and TWAS rotates between disciplines (medical/life sciences, chemistry and physics/math) to ensure optimal exposure and networking synergies. The 2013 awards issued in Boston in February, awarded five medical and life sciences researchers from Bangladesh, Yemen, Peru, Nigeria and Mongolia for their research excellence.

Nominations for the awards will be accepted from early career scientists (within ten years of graduating with a PhD degree) from the 81 scientifically-lagging countries as defined by TWAS. All nominations will be reviewed by a committee of eminent scientists representing the five regions in the discipline selected, including members of TWAS and OWSD, and chaired by OWSD president, Prof. Fang Xin.

"Since this prize was initiated, we at OWSD have been deeply impressed by the important and inspiring research that is being done by early-career women scientists in the developing world," said Fang Xin, president of OWSD. "The 2013 competition was a great success, and we look forward to a strong new round of nominations for some of the world's most promising young scientists."

"TWAS sees these awards for early-career women scientists as extremely important," said Romain Murenzi, the Academy's executive director. "Not only do they recognize life-enhancing and life-saving research, but they send a message to younger generations of girls and women: We need you, and we need your best work, to address the great challenges that confront all people and all societies. We're honored to work with the Elsevier Foundation and OWSD to recognize this excellence in research."

"Partnering with TWAS and OWSD to pay tribute to women scientists in the developing world is an honor given their unique insights into conducting science in the Global South," said David Ruth, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation, "These awards have taught us a great deal about the challenges and dynamics faced by women scientists as they navigate their academic disciplines within their countries."

Notes for Editors

Award Nomination forms may be downloaded from the OWSD website and submitted by September 15, 2013 to info@owsd.org

About TWAS

TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, is an autonomous international organization, based in Trieste, Italy, that promotes scientific excellence for sustainable development in the South. Originally named "Third World Academy of Sciences", it was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the South under the leadership of the late Nobel laureate Abdus Salam of Pakistan. The Academy's strength resides in the quality and diversity of its membership - internationally renowned scientists elected by their peers. TWAS currently has more than 1,000 members from 90 countries, 73 of which are developing countries. It is administered by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and financially supported by the Italian government. http://www.twas.org

About OWSD

The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is an international organization affiliated to TWAS. Headed by eminent women scientists from the South, OWSD has more than 4,000 members. The central role is to promote women's access to science and technology, enhancing their greater involvement in decision-making processes for the development of their countries and in the international scientific community. Created in 1989, OWSD's overall goal is to work towards bridging the gender gap in science and technology. OWSD uses its forum to promote leadership, exchanges and networking for women scientists as well as for discussions to assist in the development of national capabilities to evolve, explore and improve strategies for increasing female participation in science. http://www.owsdw.org

About The Elsevier Foundation

The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate charity funded by Elsevier, a global provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to knowledge centered institutions around the world, with a focus on developing world libraries, nurse faculty and scholars in the early stages of their careers. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 60 grants worth millions of dollars to non-profit organizations working in these fields. Through gift-matching, the Foundation also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in their local and global communities. http://www.elsevierfoundation.org

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world leading provider of professional information solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal and Risk and Business sectors, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media contacts

Edward Lempinen
TWAS/OWSD
Public Information Office
+39-040-2240-512
elempinen@twas.org

Ylann Schemm
Elsevier Foundation
Senior Corporate Responsibility Manager, Elsevier
+31-6-23982359
newsroom@elsevier.com

SOURCE Elsevier