OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2015. 10th Japan For Women in Science National Award was held at the exclusive French Ambassador’s residence with over 100 guests including country manager Klaus Fassbender, French Ambassador, and key media to high profile members from the government such as Director-General of Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office, and Koichiro Matsuura former Director-General of UNESCO.

To commemorate the 10th Anniversary, Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi made a special speech commenting, “L’Or?al and UNESCO play a significant role by supporting and recognizing talented young women scientists globally.  Education leads to gaining interest towards diverse fields, therefore offering a grant to pursue and support continued research is of great value.”

Presence of three Global Laureates!
Making a special touch to the ceremony was for the first time bringing together our three global Laureates, 2009 Laureate Prof. Akiko Kobayashi who also serves as national jury member, 2013 Laureate Prof. Reiko Kuroda, and 2014 Laureate Prof. Kayo Inaba who gave an encouraging speech to the fellows.  “Challenge with courage.  Bear in mind about Responsibility which is about “respond” and “ability”.  Respond to expectations without fear and keep moving forward.  Have the ability to also respect and show compassion to the next generation.”

10 years of history
The ceremony also highlighted the 36 national Fellows of their diverse career and life style since being awarded.  Either continuing their research in Japan or overseas, teaching to the next generation, married and having children (recently having a second child), all an exceptional role model who are opening up new boundaries, and challenging for a better working environment for women scientists.

2015 FELLOWS are:
Material Sciences         
• Kumiko Yamamoto (29) GraduateSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo --- Development of catalytic asymmetric consecutive aldol reaction
• Yoko Yoshimura (26) Kyoto University Graduate School of Science --- Development of magnetic domain wall based memory for next generation memory device
LifeSciences
• Maki Hayashi (28) Nagoya University Graduate School of Science --- Study of molecular mechanism in blue light-induced stomatal opening
• Risa Mukai (27) Tokushima Bunri University, Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences --- Development of mechanistic characterization of the disturbance of host cellular functions by HTLV-1 bZIP factor

Special Award
A Special Award which is given to an individual or association that is active in promoting the importance of education including science, was presented to Kurara Chibana the first Japan WFP Ambassador.  She was recognized for her 9 years continued dedication in educating the importance to end hunger through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) by visiting developing countries, war-torn regions, and natural disaster affected regions.

Developing the national award with digital communication
As a next step, a dedicated national For Women in Science page on our website will go live this summer.
As an interactive digital communication tool, national fellows, global Laureates, jury members, lab scientists, third party members will comment on diverse topics from career path, work life balance, studying overseas, social issues, to promoting the fun of physical sciences.