For the last three years I have hosted the annual L’Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Rising Talents Awards. It is always wonderful to host these brilliant women in the House of Commons, celebrate their achievements to date, and recognise the role they will have to play in STEM research and careers going forwards.
This year's nominees and winners were truly inspiring, and each one of them emphasised the need to really champion these role models. The challenges they face are not unique, but they all spoke of the need to build networks, augment their leadership skills, buy equipment to enable them to further their research, and meet the challenge of doing that whilst sometimes juggling childcare. As Parliamentarians we have to recognise that only 33% of researchers globally are women, and their work is too often overlooked. As are the challenges they face.
The beauty of the L’Oréal UNESCO awards are that they can be used for anything, they are fully flexible. Last night we heard from recipients who plan to use their aware to inspire other women into science research, truly being the role model for future scientists.
Globally L’Oréal has supported this initiative for 25 years, and 17 years in the UK. It is a wonderful example of a company where 69% of the 4000 (approx.) scientists are women and where they are putting money into developing and supporting the next generation of female scientists.