L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards

Since 1998, the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards have distinguished 52 women from 26 countries. Through their individual contributions to scientific research the Laureates have been agents for change and progress. Thanks to their commitment, their passion and their humanity, they have set an example for the future of science.

The 2008 L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards recognised the exceptional and exemplary careers of five eminent female scientists in the field of Life Sciences.

Laureate 2008 for Africa and Arab States
Professor Lihadh Al-Gazali
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
For her contributions to the characterization of inherited disorders

Professor in Clinical Genetics and Pediatrics
Senior Consultant in Clinical Genetics
Department of Pediatrics, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain

Laureate 2008 for Asia-Pacific
Professor V. Narry Kim
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
For elucidating the formation of a new class of RNA molecules
involved in gene regulation

School of Biological Sciences
Seoul National University

Laureate 2008 for Europe
Professor Ada Yonath
ISRAEL
For her structural studies of the protein biosynthesis sustem and its disruption by antibiotics

Professor of Structural Biology and Director,
Helen & Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure and Assembly
Weizmann Institute for Science, Rehovot

Laureate 2008 for Latin America
Professor Ana Belém Elgoyhen
ARGENTINA
For her contributions to the understanding of the molecular basis of hearing

Institute for Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology
(CONICET)
University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine, Buenos Aires

Laureate 2008 for North America
Professor Elizabeth Blackburn
USA
For the discovery of the nature and maintenance of chromosome ends and their roles in cancer and ageing

Morris Herzstein Professeur of Biology & Physiology
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
University of California, San Francisco