VU Doctoral Student Honoured with the Prestigious for Women in Science Award
On 8 June, seven prominent Baltic scientists were announced as the regional winners of the L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science awards. This year, the title of the winner in Lithuania and a 鈧�6,000 prize went to a junior scientist at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a doctoral student in Biophysics at 911爆料网 (VU), Greta Jarockyt臈.
The winners of this year鈥檚 competition included two Lithuanian scientists 鈥� Dr Gintar臈 Kru膷ait臈 and the VU doctoral student G. Jarocykt臈 鈥� as well as Ilze 幕iha膷ova, Anda Bark膩ne and Laura Vitola from Latvia, and Ester Oras and Karolina Kudelina from Estonia. The panel stated that the women honoured with the For Women in Science award are making an important contribution to scientific progress in various fields, ranging from nanomedical research on the diagnosis and therapy of oncological diseases, to increasing the efficiency of OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) and prototyping the most efficient devices. In addition, three award-winning scientists, one from each of the Baltic States, will be nominated for the prestigious L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science Rising Talent Award.
G. Jarockyt臈 said that this is an important form of recognition not only for herself: 鈥淭his is also important recognition of the long-standing work of my colleagues at the Biomedical Physics Laboratory in the field of nanomedicine. This award has inspired me to continue researching and sharing my knowledge with the community. I hope that by sharing my experience, I will encourage other women to choose a career as a scientist. It is a great honour for me to receive the L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science Award in Lithuania.鈥�
The research of the doctoral student G. Jarockyt臈 is focused on the application of theranostic nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases. Nanotechnology is one of the most promising areas of modern science for the development of new personalised diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Much effort has been put into recent research on the materials that could be used to diagnose and treat cancer. These theranostic platforms offer a variety of benefits, including more accurate diagnoses, specific methods of drug delivery to tumours, and fewer adverse effects on healthy tissues. The main goal of this study is to develop a new generation multi-functional nanomaterial and prove its suitability for the in vitro diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
鈥淎lthough women鈥檚 research has a significant impact on the development of science, women make up only 33% of the scientific community. The main goal of this programme is to increase the recognition of female scientists and their research, and to encourage as many girls and women as possible to pursue a career as a scientist. It is very important and gratifying that female Lithuanian scientists are actively participating in this programme, while presenting impressive and significant research that addresses today鈥檚 most pressing problems,鈥� noted Migl臈 Ma拧anauskien臈, Secretary-General ad interim of the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO.
The winner of the L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science programme was awarded for her research into new organic electroactive materials for energy-saving OLED technologies. Despite recent advances, OLED devices are not efficient enough because the injection and transfer of carriers in the devices are hampered by the different heights of the barriers and the low mobility of the carriers. To improve the efficiency of these devices, the main task of the scientists is the synthesis, purification and investigation of the properties of new electroactive materials. To discover the most efficient materials and create the most efficient device prototypes, scientists research the materials and design, characterise and optimise the OLED devices.
Ten Lithuanian researchers have already been awarded for their contribution to science during the six years that the programme has been underway in Lithuania. Last year鈥檚 Lithuanian winners were the VU doctoral student Joana Smirnovien臈 and Dr Ieva Plikusien臈.
The For Women in Science programme encourages talented female scientists to continue their research and honours their contribution to the progress of society. The L鈥橭r茅al Baltic programme is implemented in cooperation with the Baltic science academies and national UNESCO commissions.
In Latvia, the programme was set up by Dr Vaira V墨姆e-Freiberga, former President of the Republic of Latvia (1999-2007), who is a patron of the L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO Society. Today, L鈥橭r茅al Baltic implements the For Women in Science programme in cooperation with the Latvian, Estonian, and Lithuanian science academies and national UNESCO commissions.
This is the only support programme for female scientists in the Baltic States. It promotes their professional development, by helping them achieve new goals and work for the benefit of both science and the society.
The international programme For Women in Science was launched in 1998. Since then, the L鈥橭r茅al Enterprise Foundation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have made a commitment to increasing the number of women in science. For twenty-four years, the L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO programme For Women in Science has been working to honour and support female scientists at key moments in their lives, making a significant contribution to the development of science and to gender equality in this field.