Dubai, 20 April 2015 –  Applications for the 2015 L’ORÉAL -UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE MIDDLE EAST FELLOWSHIPS, launched in partnership with Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates & Under the Patronage of H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi Honored Minister of International Cooperation and Development of the UAE & President of Zayed University, are open. 

The very first program of its kind, L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science was founded in 1998 in the firm belief that the world needs science and science needs women. 

For the past 17 years the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program has recognized and honored exceptional women scientists and provided fellowships to promising young women researchers at crucial junctures in their careers when stereotypes and pre-conceived notions could be most detrimental. Over 2,250 women recognized in 115 countries. 

The 2015 L’ORÉAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE MIDDLE EAST FELLOWSHIPS reflect the consolidated efforts invested by UNESCO and L’Oréal, in close cooperation with Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates & Under the Patronage of H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi President of Zayed University, to empower Arab women scientists, in serious recognition to their achievements and contributions to the progress of science and scientific research, and in acknowledging the role they play for the development of their countries. 

Four fellowships of € 20,000 each will be given out in 2015 to 4 women scientists holding a PhD in the field of Life Sciences or Physical Sciences or pursuing a Master/ research leading to a PhD degree and coming from: UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Applications for the 2015 fellowships should be submitted on www.fwis.fr between the 20th of April and the 25th of June 2015. 

All applications will be evaluated by a Pan Arab panel of eminent scientists, chaired by Professor Mouin Hamzé, Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research, CNRS-L.