South African Prof. Priscilla Baker one of five L'Oréal For Women in Science Award Winners
Every year, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science recognises five exceptional women scientists, one from each of five regions across the world. The winners represent the outstanding scientific research conducted by women, and their contributions to advancing knowledge, addressing global challenges and inspiring other women.
This year, Priscilla Baker, a professor of analytical electrochemistry at the University of the Western Cape, was one of five laureates selected from 466 nominees after a rigorous evaluation process.
Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, Prof. Baker was honoured for her outstanding contribution in the field of highly sensitive electrochemical microsensors for detecting contaminants in the environment, with applications in pharmaceuticals, food, health and energy.
The other winners are –
• China's Prof. Xiaoyun Wang (Laureate for Asia and the Pacific) for her significant contribution to cryptography and cryptographic mathematics, critical for secure data communication and storage;
• Germany's Prof. Claudia Felser (Laureate for Europe) for her pioneering work at the crossroads of physics, mathematics and chemistry that led to the discovery and creation of new magnetic materials with great promise for future green energy technologies;
• Argentina's Prof. Maria Teresa Dova (Laureate for Latin America and the Caribbean) for her key contributions to high energy physics, including the discovery and characterisation of the Higgs boson, the search for new physics and her remarkable work in the study of cosmic ray physics;
• the United States of America's Prof. Barbara Finlayson-Pitts (Laureate for North America) for her groundbreaking research establishing the molecular basis of reactions at the interfaces between atmosphere and airborne particles, which has led to seminal contributions to public policy on air pollution.
These brilliant researchers are also enthusiastic and dedicated mentors of students and early career scientists.
