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Winners Announced – Nature Research Award for Inspiring & Innovating Science 2020
Press Release, Oct 14, 2020
Samira Asgari, an Iranian computational biologist, and Chicas en Tecnología, an Argentinian non-profit organisation, have been selected as the winners of this year’s awards, organised by Nature Research and The Estée Lauder Companies
London | New York | Berlin, 14 October 2020 - The winners of this year’s Nature Research Awards for Inspiring & Innovating Science, organised in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies, have been announced today at a dedicated digital award ceremony. Now in its third year, the awards celebrate and support both the achievements of women in science and initiatives promoting STEM* subjects to girls and young women. The winner in each category receives a monetary grant of US $30,000 to spend on initiatives relating to their work, as well as additional funding for publication, event funding and mentoring through The Estée Lauder Companies and other publicity opportunities.
This year the scope was refined to two categories: Scientific Achievement and Science Outreach.
Samira Asgari, postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School, is this year’s winner of the Scientific Achievement category. Asgari’s research is revealing how human history shapes global genetic diversity and how this genetic diversity translates to phenotypic diversity. Her work highlights the need for expanding genetic studies to non-European populations and shows that diversity in genomics research is key to reducing health disparities and improving clinical care for all humans. Alongside her strong research record, Asgari is passionate about educating herself and others about the socially responsible communication of research results to avoid reinforcing false notions of race and hierarchy or strengthening biases that fuel disparity in public health.
Chicas en Tecnología (CET), a non-profit organisation based in Argentina, has been selected as this year’s winner of the Science Outreach category. The goal of CET is to increase the number of women entering careers in technology entrepreneurship by motivating, training and mentoring young women through targeted programmes and clubs. Melina Masnatta set up CET after working for over a decade in STEAM** inclusion projects. She began to investigate and uncover the social and cultural barriers, gender stereotypes and biases that prevent women from creating and implementing new technologies. She set up CET to change the whole education system by transforming the women within it.
Lisa Napolione, Senior Vice President Global Research & Development at The Estée Lauder Companies and judging panel member, said: “It is more important than ever to commit to creating inclusive and supportive environments in STEM and to publicly advocate for science and scientists, because that is what truly enables discovery and innovation. Samira Asgari and Chicas en Tecnología, exemplify that importance of inclusivity, mentorship and outreach in STEM. They were chosen from a truly outstanding pool of applicants this year indicating the potential and strength of the future in STEM. We are very proud to have partnered with Nature Research for a third year, and we look forward to seeing how the research and mentoring efforts of our winners will continue to open doors for other women and girls in STEM.”
Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature and judging panel member, said: “Diversity in STEM subjects is key for the future advancement of science and our planet. It was fantastic to review such a diverse range of applications this year, spanning almost all continents. Deciding on only two winners was even more difficult than usual this year. We would like to congratulate Samira Asgari and Chicas en Tecnología not only for their achievements, but for their shared sense of social responsibility, commitment to diversity and their common attitude to the importance of science and technology literacy, outreach and communications everywhere. We hope that these awards will help raise the profile of women and girls in STEM all over the world and also remind the research community of the important role that each of us can play in standing up for science -- it is an honour to work with The Estée Lauder Companies to achieve these goals.”
Winners are selected by an expert panel of judges consisting of academic scientists, external experts and representatives from Nature Research and The Estée Lauder Companies.
*STEM includes natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.
**STEAM includes science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
About Nature Research
Nature Research is a portfolio of high-quality products and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences – including journals, databases and researcher services – dedicated to serving the scientific community.
Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading, international weekly journal of science. Nature Research also publishes a range of Nature-branded subscription journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, other open access journals including Scientific Reports, and a range of Nature Partner Journals published in partnership with institutions and societies. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.
Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with Nature Research content, including news and comment from Nature, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. Nature Research also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training and expert language and editing services. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @nresearchnews. Nature Research is part of Springer Nature.
About The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, BECCA, Too Faced and Dr. Jart+.