Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk, a chemist specialising in the digital design of materials, chemicals and medicines, with an emphasis on their sustainability and safety, was among the six scholarship recipients of this year's edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women and Science programme. The names of the laureates were announced at a gala ceremony held in Warsaw on November 20.
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women and Science scholarship programme is an initiative that has been honouring and recognising the achievements of women scientists for 24 years. To date, 129 female researchers have been awarded in Poland, whose scientific achievements have been honoured by a jury. The scholarship holders have successfully pursued their research not only in Poland but also internationally.
Applications by this year's scholarship holders were assessed by a jury of eminent representatives of Polish science, chaired by prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska. Out of the best applications, 6 projects were distinguished, awarding their authors: 3 habilitation scholarships of PLN 40 000, 2 doctoral scholarships of PLN 35 000 and a master's scholarship of PLN 25 000. All the awarded researchers, with the support of the programme partners, will participate in international conferences and symposia, and their achievements will be promoted not only in the scientific community, but also presented to a wider audience. The laureates also received prizes of PLN 15,000, awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk was awarded in the postdoctoral category for her thesis entitled ‘Methods of machine learning, artificial intelligence and molecular modelling as tools supporting the process of sustainable design of safe, advanced and innovative materials, chemicals and drugs’. Dr A. Mikołajczyk specialises in the digital design of new, advanced and innovative materials, chemicals and medicines, with a focus on their safety and sustainability. Her research interests focus on the integration of artificial intelligence, quantum chemistry and machine learning methods, which enables the transfer of design processes from traditional laboratories to virtual space. ‘The development of civilisation is pushing the need to design new, advanced and innovative materials, chemicals and medicines and more efficient technological processes quickly, cheaply and efficiently, while minimising their impact on health and the environment throughout the product life cycle. The research I conduct can be likened to the work of an architect and advanced architectural models to assess the strength and safety of structures even before they are physically built. A safe home requires sound design at an early planning stage, i.e. before construction starts, not after - the same is true for newly designed materials, chemicals and medicines,’ says dr Alicja Mikołajczyk.
The aim of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women and Science programme is to promote the scientific achievements of talented female researchers, encourage them to continue their work aimed at advancing science and provide them with financial support, awarded in the form of a scholarship. The partners of the programme are: the Polish Committee for UNESCO, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Polish Academy of Sciences and the UN Global Compact Network Poland. The scholarships are awarded by an independent jury of eminent representatives of Polish science.
‘A great deal has changed over the 24 years of our activities. First of all, gender equality plans have been implemented at practically all Polish universities - a requirement of the European Commission. The perception of women and their role in research teams has also changed. We are more willing to use feminine terms, such as the word ‘scientist’, female researchers are winners of non-scientific competitions and take part in socially important events. However, this is still not enough to speak of equal opportunities for women and men in the world of science. An important task for the coming years is to educate about equality in research teams, to promote science among younger generations of girls and to promote the research successes of talented female scientists in the media. Science needs women, and the world needs science to meet the challenges of the future,’ says Head of the Department of Plant Protection and Biotechnology at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska, Chair of the Jury of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Programme for Women and Science.
Since 1998, the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have worked together to promote women in science by creating programmes that put female scientists in the spotlight and support their achievements. In Poland, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women and Science programme has been running since 2001 - 129 female scientists have been honoured in our country until 2024. The selection of the scholarship recipients is made each year by an independent jury chaired by prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska.
