AsianScientist (Feb. 9, 2018) – Even though women continue to be under-represented in the fields of science and technology, that has not stopped the ones who have persisted from doing amazing things.
In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, we highlight seven outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to their chosen fields.
1. The Pharmaceutical Chemist Who Turned The Tide Against Malaria
Professor Tu Youyou won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discovery of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin, which has saved millions of lives worldwide. In 2017, she received the Preeminent Science and Technology Award, the top award for science in China.
2. Small Particles, Big Impact
A renowned particle physicist, Professor Choi Sookyung received the 2017 Ho-Am Prize for her discovery of a new class of subatomic particles named XYZ mesons. Together with her colleagues in the Belle experiment, Choi was the first to observe the X(3872) meson, a subatomic particle made of quarks and gluons.
3. Bringing Computers To The Fight Against Cancer
Using computational algorithms, Professor Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay has identified a genetic marker for breast cancer. For her multidisciplinary research in computational biology, she was awarded the 2017 Infosys Prize for engineering and computer sciences.
4. An Expert In Disease and Disaster Management
Dr. Jenny Su Huey-Jen played a critical role in handling a dengue fever outbreak in Tainan City in 2015 and a magnitude 6.4 earthquake which rattled southern Taiwan in 2016. In recognition of her contributions as a public health expert, she was presented with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s 2017 Leadership Award in Public Health Practice.
5. Tapping Rubber For Innovation
Associate Professor Napida Hinchiranan is exploring the potential of rubber as a material for value-added products and alternative energy. For her efforts in materials science and renewable energy, she received the 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship.
6. A Defender Of Personal Data
Associate Professor Tanzima Hashem is working on computational techniques that would allow us to use location-based services without giving away our private personal data. She was honored with the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Scientists in the Developing World in February 2017.
7. Keeping Water Bodies Clean
For her work on using biomass for environmental remediation, Dr. Felycia Edi Soetaredjo was awarded the 2017 Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World. In her research, Soetaredjo converts biomass and clay into absorbents that can be used to remove hazardous compounds such as antibiotics, heavy metals and dyes from wastewater.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
