“L’Oreal – UNESCO Women in Science” National Program: UNESCO and L’Oreal have been offering two fellowships of US$10,000 each to two Colombian female scientists to conduct their research studies in Colombia for two years, including travelling, study and living expenses. The L’Oreal national grant program for Colombia was launched in 2008. The National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO started working with ICETEX, L’Oreal and COLCIENCIAS to launch the L’Oreal – UNESCO Women in Science National Program. 

ICETEX is in charge of the invitation and receives the nominations, while COLCIENCIAS develops the assessment criteria and appoints a multidisciplinary panel of judges for the evaluation of the projects. The final decision is made within the framework of the Scholarship Committee from ICETEX, attended by members from L’Oreal Colombia’s staff and by the Executive Secretariat of the National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO.

The fellowships from the L’Oreal – UNESCO Women in Science National Program are presented during an official ceremony before the academic community, members of the staffs of the organizing entities and the candidates to the fellowships.   

Fellowships of the L’Oreal – UNESCO Women in Science National Program: two research fellowships were presented on 6 April 2011, at the French Embassy in Bogotá, to the Colombian scientists Olga Yaneth Vásquez, 41, from Soacha, Cundinamarca, and to Katherine Luna, 37, from Banco, Magdalena

The prize-winning research projects tackle the development of better practices through biotechnology for a better care of the environment in mining processes and, on the other hand, striving for solutions to conditions such as the Chagas disease, from basic research or through the use of resources thanks to technological processes.