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The Department Of Science And Technology Announces South African Women In Science Awards 2004

The Department of Science and Technology announces the 2004 South Africa Women in Science Awards to be held on Friday, 6 August 2004 at Hilton Hotel in Johannesburg. The Department has created recognition awards to celebrate 'Women in Science' as a direct response to the vision encapsulated in the national Research and Development (R&D) Strategy of ultimate improvement in the quality of life of South Africans. According to the R&D Strategy approved by Cabinet in 2002, the role of women in the development and sharing of knowledge that contributes to improvement in people's economic status and quality of life has been limited. In addition, the contribution of outstanding women in scientific research has not been fully recognised. This lack of recognition has resulted in inequity of access by women to the scientific research professions. The further lack of prominent women scientists as role models has hampered the public understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology and the participation of women at all levels of science. It is with these objectives in mind that the Department of Science and Technology has created various types of recognition awards to celebrate 'Women in Science'. The following are the major categories of the awards:

1. Distinguished Woman Scientist Award - rewarding a scientist for her outstanding research.
2. Distinguished Scientist Award - acknowledging a scientist for her/his outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life of women.
3. The L'Oréal 2003/2004 Fellowship of the 'FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE' South African Initiative, This is supported by the National Commission for UNESCO and in association with the Department of Science and Technology. This fellowship is for the best female PhD student.
4. Women Scientist Fellowship - recognising young women scientists with exceptional ability, innovative or gender-specific research.
5. Postgraduate studies in Technology Management sponsored by the Da Vinci Institute of Technology Management.

The Department of Science and Technology's Science, Gender and Disability Unit is firmly committed to empowering women of South Africa, both within and beyond the Science sector, as users and beneficiaries of the end products. We are confident that the Women in Science Awards will leverage scientific career opportunities for women and engender scientific research to improving the quality of life of our people.

These awards are a celebration of Women's achievements in the Science, Engineering and Technology sector.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

For more information, please contact: Andrew Aphane on 082 387 5615 / Dr Shaidah Asmall on 082 416 7307