The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has conferred Yi Xie, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, on March 18, Wednesday, with the L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards 2015, together with four other women for their pioneering discoveries in physical sciences.
Fifteen other promising young researchers were also honored in the 17th L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science ceremony at the Grand Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
According to a statement by UNESCO, Yi Xie was honored for her valuable contributions in the creation of new nano materials that have potential capabilities to convert heat or sunlight into electricity.
UNESCO stated in the press release that Yi's work will greatly help in reducing pollution and enhancing energy efficiency, which can have potential impact on the future. The organization also praised Yi's commitment to preserve the planet by finding innovative solutions to resolve environmental problems.
The five honorees for this year's awards were chosen from five different regions of the world. The independent jury tasked to make the selection was composed of 12 internationally known scientists headed by 1999 Nobel Prize winner Prof. Ahmed Zewail, who is also the jury president.
The other four scientists honored in the awards include Rajaa Cherkaoui El Moursli, professor at the Mohammed V University of Morocco; Thaisa Storchi Bergmann, professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul of Brazil; Dame Carol Robinson, professor at Oxford University; and Molly S. Shoichet, professor at the University of Toronto.
The L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science bestows five annual awards and encourages the 15 outstanding young women chosen every year to improve on their fields of study. The award aims to honor distinguished women scientists and help support the career of promising young researchers.