Program for Women in Science Marks Its 20th Year in Turkey

For 20 Years, a Programme Supporting Women in Science in Turkey The world is changing today at a rapid pace and in many ways. While humanity must confront unpredictable sudden developments, the entire world is facing challenging trials in socio-economic, environmental and social terms. Under these extraordinary circumstances, we all now well understand that we need scientists and scientific research more than ever. L'Oréal Group, a leading techno-beauty company with science in its DNA and one that has placed science at the centre of its operations since its founding, continues to raise awareness through the "For Women in Science" programme on achieving gender equality in science globally and taking concrete steps to empower women working in the field of science. In the Programme's 20th Year, 4 More Turkish Women Scientists Shaping the Future by Directing Science! L'Oréal Turkey ranks among the 5 countries providing the most support worldwide for the "For Women in Science" programme. This year, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the programme once again saw intense interest from women scientists across the country, with the application process being completed by close to 100 candidates presenting highly successful projects. Applications submitted in two categories—"Life and Environmental Sciences" and "Physical Sciences"—were evaluated by an independent UNESCO jury. Four young and talented women scientists with promising comprehensive and innovative scientific research and inspiring work contributing to scientific advancement were deemed worthy of the award, with each receiving TRY 120,000 in support for use in their scientific research. The women scientists presenting their projects at the launch, which was attended by L'Oréal Turkey General Manager Sinem Sandıkçı Gökçen, UNESCO Turkey National Commission Chair Prof. Dr. M. Öcal Oğuz, and writer and actress Gülse Birsel, were selected based on criteria including their academic background, contribution of their research to science, project feasibility, sustainability and scientific innovation. The four young women scientists, all under the age of 40 and continuing their research at universities, are working on exciting projects in many areas such as environment, medicine, technology, energy and industry. As part of the celebration of the programme's 20th year, Prof. Dr. Seda Keskin Avcı, who appeared on the "World's Top 20 Women Scientists" list recently announced by the Chemical Engineering Research and Design (ChERD) journal and was previously among the winners of the For Women in Science programme in 2011, also attended the event. Prof. Dr. Seda Keskin Avcı, who is also "Turkey's Youngest Female Professor in Chemical Engineering Metal Organic Structures," shared her feelings and thoughts on the "For Women in Science" programme in her speech: "I feel tremendous excitement learning that the 'For Women in Science' programme, which was launched to support gender equality in science and women's contribution to science and is reaching an increasing number of researchers, has supported 116 women scientists in our country to date. Today, as we celebrate the 20th year of this programme for which I also received an award in 2011, being present on this stage again as a scientist among 'the world's top 20 women scientists' is an additional source of pride for me. Today and throughout the past 20 years, I heartily congratulate all researchers recognised by the 'For Women in Science' programme and wish all those who have dedicated themselves to science clear paths ahead," she said. Writer and actress Gülse Birsel, who attended the event as a guest of honour, received great interest from the audience with her speech. Birsel said: "On the 20th anniversary of the For Women in Science programme, I am deeply honoured to be on this stage once again and to serve as an ambassador for the programme. The 4 women I am proud to meet today have support behind them. One of them is the For Women in Science programme of which I am now a part. They are merely four among those who, with this support, will realise the dreams that we can only dream of for the future. They have already set out and begun to realise them. I congratulate the women scientists deserving of an award this year in Turkey's part of the For Women in Science programme, which is being implemented on a global scale, and I am very grateful to be part of today," she said. Speaking about the "For Women in Science" programme, L'Oréal Turkey General Manager Sinem Sandıkçı Gökçen said: "We are in a period where we need not only science, but also gender equality in science. As L'Oréal Turkey, we take great pride in having reached 116 women scientists with the 'For Women in Science' programme, which we launched to promote gender equality in science and which celebrates its 20th year this year. We will continue to work with even greater passion to reward excellence in science, help talented women scientists gain the recognition they deserve, and create role models to inspire our young girls to become women scientists. As L'Oréal Turkey, we are the 5th country providing the most support to the programme worldwide. Over the past 20 years, a total of 5 Turkish women scientists have been selected as "International Rising Talents" in the programme's global stage, with 4 of them consecutively, bringing Turkey's name to international platforms. We are proud of each of them. On the 20th anniversary of our programme, I thank the young women scientists who deserve to receive awards for dedicating their lives with devotion to science and humanity and giving us hope for the future, and I sincerely congratulate them. On this occasion, I would also like to thank UNESCO, which shares our passion, for their strong cooperation over the years," she said. Dr. Burcu Bakır Güngör is working on faster diagnosis and development of personalised treatment for colorectal cancer, the third most common type of cancer globally. Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common type of cancer worldwide, is caused by genetic mutations, environmental conditions and anomalies in intestinal microbiota. While some studies attempt to reveal the composition and functional capacity of intestinal microbiota related to CRC, a comprehensive picture of intestinal microbiota in CRC patients has not been established. Dr. Güngör's project aims to create a robust classification model that can assist in rapid CRC diagnosis by analysing different metagenomic datasets related to CRC using various machine learning and artificial intelligence methods, discover taxonomic biomarkers related to CRC, population-specific microorganisms associated with CRC and subgroups of CRC patients. The project is also expected to reveal microbiota-mediated mechanisms of CRC. Through the model she will develop, Dr. Güngör aims to minimise the microbiota required for CRC diagnosis, thereby reducing the cost and time required for diagnosis. This project, called "Discovery of Taxonomic Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer from Human Intestinal Microbiota," will in addition to methodological diagnosis also help identify biomarkers for personalised CRC treatment. Dr. Buse Cevatemre is working to overcome chemotherapy resistance in prostate cancer. Some cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can develop resistance to the drug used over time. This drug resistance observed in patients represents a major obstacle to treatment. Dr. Cevatemre began her research with the question "How can we break drug resistance, how can we make cancer cells sensitive to the drug again?" and focused on a specific disease by asking this question specifically in the context of prostate cancer. The research first needed to mimic drug resistance observed in cancer patients in the laboratory and create a model to work with. As a result of the experiments, Dr. Buse Cevatemre and her team, discovering a target that would enable drug-resistant prostate cancer cells to respond to the same drug again, confirmed their findings with genetic and pharmacological approaches. With her study titled "Investigation of the Role of BRPF Group Epigenetic Regulators in Breaking Taxane Resistance in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancers and its Molecular Mechanism of Action," Dr. Buse Cevatemre is investigating how they overcome this resistance. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damla Eroğlu Pala is working to develop lithium-sulphur batteries with higher energy and longer operating times. Lithium-sulphur batteries, which have much higher capacity compared to conventional batteries, will reduce carbon emissions and dependence on petrol. The importance of lithium-sulphur batteries has increased in recent years due to their high theoretical energy and the fact that they contain materials more abundant in nature. However, in order to commercialise lithium-sulphur batteries, energy density and cycle life, that is operating time, need to be increased. With her project titled "Development of 3-Dimensional Nickel-Sulphur Composite Cathodes via Electrodeposition for Lithium-Sulphur Batteries with High Energy Density," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damla Eroğlu Pala aims to produce three-dimensional nickel-sulphur composites by electrodeposition and develop lithium-sulphur batteries with high energy density and cycle life that are much more powerful and can operate for longer periods using the obtained composite cathodes. In-depth examination of the relationships between cathode design parameters and cell and system-level performance in lithium-sulphur batteries is of critical importance for these batteries to reach the desired level. With her project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duygu Ağaoğulları is revealing the potential for use of advanced boron products in Turkey, which holds approximately 75% of the world's boron reserves. Through the project, the country's own resources will become much more efficient and profitable. Starting from the fact that Turkey possesses 75% of the world's boron reserves, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ağaoğulları aims at the synthesis of granular/particulate metal borides, which are cutting-edge boron products, hybridisation of the obtained borides, conversion into advanced ceramic materials through sintering techniques, and surface improvement by coating with a two-dimensional material like graphene. Through the project; a valuable new generation material group combining different categories such as powder material, ceramic material and two-dimensional graphene like graphene, will be produced using Turkey's own resources. Although this material group has no industrial use worldwide, research has verified that it is a material group with very high hardness, wear resistance, chemical stability, and very high usage potential within sectors such as the electronics industry, aerospace/aviation industry, defence industry and coating technologies. Through this research, called "Conversion of Domestic Boron Resources into Advanced Boride Particle & Ceramic Materials and Improvement of Surface Properties via Graphene Encapsulation," the potential for use of advanced boron products in technological and industrial activities in Turkey, which holds approximately 75% of the world's boron reserves, will be demonstrated, and thus the country's own resources will become much more efficient and profitable.

Women in Science by the Numbers

• The "For Women in Science" programme is being implemented by L'Oréal Group in more than 110 countries. • The programme has been successfully running for 24 years globally and 20 years at L'Oréal Turkey. • The "For Women in Science" programme supports more than 250 talented young women scientists every year. Leading researchers from 5 continents continue their scientific careers thanks to the support received through the programme and make discoveries that will help change the world. • To date, the total number of women scientists receiving support on a global scale has reached 3,900. • In Turkey, resources have been provided for the projects of 116 young women scientists so far. • Women scientists lead groundbreaking research globally, yet despite their extraordinary discoveries, women still represent only 29% of researchers globally. • Only 35% of students enrolled in STEM-related fields are women. • To date, only 3% of Nobel Science Prizes have been awarded to women, and only 11% of senior research in Europe is conducted by women. • In Turkey, women hold 37% of all R&D fields, 35% in natural sciences and engineering, and 43% in social sciences and humanities.