For some time back, women have been left behind the curtain especially in the field of science but now this trend seems to have changed. The five females that have made it in the sciences due to their contributions to world science have won the most prestigious awards in sciences on the globe by UNESCO.

Congratulation to the five outstanding; Alicia Dickenstein, from Latin America in the category of mathematics, Kyoko Nozaki, Asia Pacific, in the category of Chemistry, Francoise Combes, in the category of astrophysics, Europe, Catherine Angila, from Kenya.

Professor Catherine Ngila – the only African scientist who was awarded in the category of Chemistry in Kenya, was recognized for introducing, developing and applying nanotechnology-based analytical methods to monitor water pollutants. Her innovative work is of vital importance for the development of water resource management in an environmentally sustainable way.

“Women and girls play a critical role in science and the COVID-19 crisis has clearly demonstrated women researchers at the forefront in the fight, from advancing the knowledge on the virus, to developing techniques for testing, and finally to creating the vaccine against the virus. However, the pandemic also had a significant negative impact on women scientists, thus contributing to the widening of the existing gender gap in science,” UNESCO Nairobi writes.

The awards came as the “world commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021,” UNESCO’s Nairobi letters adds in part.” Africa needs science, and science needs women. In the region, we will continue to work with our partners and technology companies to further promote the uptake of STEM education,” 

Women's day is celebrated every 8th of March each year. This year's theme is Women in Leadership; Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. 

UNESCO’s report indicates that only  33% of researchers are women, despite the fact that they represent 45% and 55% of students at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels of study respectively, and 44% of those enrolled in PhD programmes.