[Wigsat-l] African Union awards women scientists, welcomes new EU funding opportunities

[Sophia Huyer]

African Union awards women scientists, welcomes new EU funding  
opportunities
http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.document&N_LANG=EN&N_RCN=31229
Date2009-09-10

illustration of this article On 9 September, the African Union Women  
Scientist Regional Awards were presented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. EU  
Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik participated in  
the ceremony, commending the four laureates for their role in building  
the 'new African Society' and addressing the problems still facing  
women scientists in Europe.

The African Union Scientific Awards programme celebrates the  
achievements of women scientists through its 'Regional Women  
Scientific Award', and fosters career development for young scientists  
in the African Union (AU) Member States. In addition to rewarding  
outstanding scientists throughout the continent, the programme  
promotes efforts to transform research into entrepreneurship and  
attract investments to Africa.

Awards valued at USD 20,000 (approximately EUR 13,700) apiece were  
given to four women scientists chosen from five African regions  
(central, eastern, northern, southern and western Africa) for their  
outstanding work in basic science, technology and innovation, and  
earth and life sciences. It is hoped that the awards will inspire more  
girls to pursue an education and career in science.

'Today is a relevant moment for the AU Commission to underline the  
importance and relevance of science as an engine for Africa's  
development,' said Commissioner Potocnik. 'Through this ceremony, the  
AUC wants to acknowledge the importance and role of the women [...]  
for Africa's development.'

Addressing the laureates, the Commissioner emphasised that their  
competences and capacities extend well beyond scientific endeavour:  
'You [...] are the symbol of how future challenges may be met and  
solutions may be found,' he said.

The award acknowledges the heavy responsibility its recipients carry,  
to serve as role models. 'You demonstrate that all Africans, including  
those who may have been excluded from certain types of education or  
office in the past, can become recognised as the engine of development  
and step up your contribution. You are a standard bearer of hope to  
succeed despite often difficult situations. You have the capacities to  
demonstrate that a better society is possible,' said Dr Potocnik.

While women scientists in Africa often face overwhelming obstacles to  
success, in Europe progress has also been hindered. 'In Europe, we are  
also placing more emphasis on mobilising the talents of women in  
research. This is borne out of the belief that no society can succeed  
in the long run with only half its capacities and talents directed to  
matters of public and socioeconomic importance,' the Commissioner  
explained, adding: 'If research must be relevant to society and have a  
real impact, it must involve all elements of that society.'

Although more than 34% of European science, engineering and technology  
graduates are women, only 9% of professors in these fields are women.  
While the numbers have improved somewhat in the past few years, Dr  
Potocnik underlined that the figures reflect a gross waste of talent  
and resources. He explained that the EU has taken measures to 'promote  
better conditions for women to reconcile their private and  
professional lives, careers and families' and to ensure that the  
processes, instruments and criteria of research funding promote gender  
equality.

'During my visit to Africa, in Kenya and Ethiopia, I [...] met many  
women scientists and I can say that if their example is  
representative, Africa cannot afford to [leave] their intelligence and  
dynamism untapped,' Dr Potocnik remarked.

On the same day, Dr Potocnik and AU Commissioner for Human Resource  
Science and Technology, J.P. Ezin, announced the recent launch of a  
call for research proposals for Africa in 2010 worth EUR 63 million.  
The purpose of the call is to help strengthen Africa's research base.  
Successful proposals to carry out projects in health, environment,  
food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology will be financed  
through the 'Cooperation' Theme of the Seventh Research Framework  
Programme (FP7).

In a separate speech, Commissioner Potocnik urged African researchers  
to team up with EU scientists and to apply to the EUR 63 million call  
for proposals. Financing will be given to priority topics as  
identified by the African research community. The call is part of the  
AU-EU Scientific Partnership agreed upon in December 2007, and follows  
efforts initiated in autumn 2008 to implement the 'EU-AU Partnership  
for Science, Information Society and Space' through several flagship  
projects.

Contact person:For more information, please visit:

EU Commissioner for Science and Research:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/potocnik/

To learn more about the African Union Scientific Awards, click:
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/conferences/2009/june/hrst/award.html

Remarks:

Category:General policy

Data Source Provider:European Commission; African Union 
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