Nigerian shines as UNESCO Science Laureate
A Nigerian female scientist has bagged a prize of
$100,000, as one of the winners of the 2013 L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards in Physical
Sciences. Professor Francisca Okeke, the first female Head of
Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka bagged the 2013 Laureate award for her
significant contributions “to the understanding of daily variations of the ion
currents in the upper atmosphere which may further our understanding of climate
change.”
UNESCO says Professor Okeke has made the study of the
ionosphere her lifetime work. The ionosphere lies between 50km and 1000kms
above the earth surface. “A very thick layer of charged particles, the
ionosphere produces changes in the magnetic field on earth’s surface that
affect the planet in a host of ways. Her research could lead to a better
understanding of climate change and help pinpoint sources of dramatic phenomena
like tsunamis and earthquakes”, a summary of her research published by UNESCO
read.
The awards were announced last year October, but the
award ceremony took place over the weekend in Paris.
She was the only recipient in that category from Africa
and the Arab nations and the third Nigerian Laureate since the UNESCO-L’Oreal
partnership was established in 1998. Professor Okeke got a prize of $100,000.
Four others also got awards in the Laureate category with
each representing Europe, Latin America, North America and the Asia Pacific
regions.
UK Scientist Professor Pratibha Gai of York University
won the 2013 European Laureate award. She was recognised for “ingeniously
modifying her electron microscope so that she was able to observe chemical
reactions occurring at surface atoms of catalysts which will help scientists in
their development of new medicines or new energy sources."
Dr Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi: named a fellow
The second Nigerian award recipient, Dr Eucharia Nwaichi,
an environmental bio-chemist from the University of Port Harcourt joined 15
other young scientists in the “International Fellows’’ category.
Okeke told the Western Europe Correspondent of NAN that
she would continue to encourage women to participate in the development of
science and technology in the country.
She noted that cultural challenges were impeding on
women’s participation in global innovations, stressing that “even though it is
seen as a male dominated field, people like us inspire others.’’
Similarly, Nwaichi, who was recognised for her research
on “scientific solution to environmental pollution’’, stressed the need for
increased motivation to support women in the field.
Amb Mariam Katagum, Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to
UNESCO, said candidates who met the criteria were selected by a jury based on
their submitted projects.
“Two important elements are respecting the deadline and
also making their submission through the Nigerian National Commission for
UNESCO, because that gives it authenticity.
“For us as delegates, as soon as we knew we had possible
candidates from Nigeria, we ensured that due process was followed.
“There is no interference as you can see, an
international jury determined the outcome,’’ she said, adding that the
recipients had broken the frontiers in the field of science."
According to her, they have become role models for girls.
For us as a country, we need to encourage more girls to go into science.
“We can only do that by providing the environment, access
to quality education and making sure that the facilities that will make them
interested in science subjects are in place,’’ she stressed.
The international jury which selected the 2013 awardees
was led by Nobel Prize winner, Mr Ahmed Zewail. (NAN)
By PM News
No comments:
Post a Comment