KUALA LUMPUR, 30 November – Associate Professor Dr Mariatulqabtiah Abdul Razak, a researcher from the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has been awarded the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award 2022 (Malaysia programme) in a ceremony which was held in person for the first time since the pandemic at Parkroyal Collection.

Tomas Hruska, Managing Director of L’Oréal Malaysia who presented the award, said “As a science-based company, L’Oréal believes that there are endless possibilities for girls and women in STEM, and we want to nurture their dream by supporting them as best as we can.” 

Each year, the Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO celebrate the scientific excellence of eminent women researchers from around the world. Since the creation of the For Women in Science programme in 1998, 122 Laureates and more than 3,900 talented scientists, PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, have been supported and honoured in more than 110 countries from 5 regions. The For Women in Science Award (Malaysia programme) was launched back in 2016. Over RM1.5 million of research grant has been disbursed to 57 women scientists in recognition of their achievements.

Dr. Maria’s stellar research plan on mpox virus was unanimously selected by the panels of juries upon careful deliberations, led by Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, President of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), due to the strong project significance and contribution to science. Another two winners of the award were Assistant Professor Dr Alison Wee Kim Shan from the University of Nottingham Malaysia and Assistant Professor Dr Nadiah Abu from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Each winner will be supported with a RM30,000 seeding fund to advance their research.

Date of Input: 30/12/2022 | Updated: 30/12/2022 | m_radzi