Professor Ana Flávia Nogueira, from the Unicamp Chemistry Institute, is one of three Brazilians awarded by one of the most important scientific organizations in the world, as a way of promoting diversity in research and in the field of chemistry. The researcher will receive the Brazilian Women in Chemistry and Related Sciences Award, offered by the American Chemical Society (ACS) in partnership with the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ).
The other winners are: associate professor in chemistry Paola de Azevedo Mello, from the Federal University of Santa Maria (RS), in the emerging leader category; and the chemical engineer specializing in the petroleum area and senior consultant at Petrobras, Sonia Maria Cabral de Menezes, for her leadership in the industry.
The awards aim to promote gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in Brazil and to advance the understanding of the impact of diversity on scientific research and in the field of chemistry. The winners will be honored on October 15th during the symposium on combating inequality in science, which will be part of the 43rd SBQ Annual Meeting.
Ana Flávia Nogueira won the academy leadership award, for her contribution to the global and social impact of research. His outstanding work was in the research and development of new, cheaper and more efficient materials and processes for converting solar energy into electrical energy. (Read the articles published by Jornal da Unicamp below)
“This is not just an award I receive for leadership in academia, but for all young researchers, from scientific initiation, postgraduate and postdoctoral students who dream of being a scientist”, says the Unicamp professor. “And at such a difficult time. I dedicate this award to them. I say that our path is not easy, it is difficult, tortuous, dense, but it is certainly worth it. Because we, women, do it with a lot of love, dedication and competence."
The professor is recognized for her pioneering work in the country and in Latin America in the use of emerging solar cells such as perovskite and dye-sensitized solar cells. Using new materials and cheaper processes, the professor obtained results that were as efficient as solar cells that use silicon. The research was carried out at the Nanotechnology and Solar Energy Laboratory (LNES) at Unicamp.
Historic moment for women in science
This international award coincides with a historic moment for women in science. For the first time, two researchers shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, announced this Wednesday (7/10). Frenchman Emmanuelle Charpenter and American Jennifer A. Doudna were awarded for revolutionary work in the field of gene editing.
“Through our collaboration with the Brazilian Chemical Society and other supporting organizations, we were able to identify three notable women who are working to advance chemical sciences in Brazil,” says Bibiana Campos-Seijo, editor-in-chief of the weekly news journal of ACS Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) and vice president of the C&EN Media Group. “We will celebrate the talent of these researchers and their contributions in an event that will bring together great scientists to develop actions to create a more diverse and inclusive environment for everyone, at an exceptional time, where women are taking on leadership positions, as recognized by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year”, says the publisher.
This is the third year the award has been offered. For their achievement, the winners will receive the equivalent of US$2.000 (around R$11) each, as well as a subscription to CAS SciFinder and ACS membership for three years, plus the award certificate.
Innovation and inspiration
The virtual ceremony on the 15th will feature the participation of Dr. Alexa Dembek, director of Technology and Sustainability at DuPont, also a supporter of the award. “Innovation is and always has been about people and their exceptional and inspiring vision and purpose. And DuPont is a relentless advocate of innovation, to seek solutions for our daily lives, our businesses and for a more sustainable planet. This award addresses this and also highlights the diversity and role of women in science, with impactful contributions and remarkable work, with personal commitment and experience in scientific innovation, technology and engineering in their respective fields”, says Dr. Dembek . She will be part of a discussion during the event about diversity, equity and inclusion in science alongside editor Bibiana Campos-Seijo, from ACS Chemical & Engineering News, and Dr. Denise Ferreira, director for Brazil at ACS Internacional.
About ACS and its partners
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a non-profit organization chartered by the US Congress. ACS's mission is to advance the broader chemical enterprise and its professionals for the benefit of the planet and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through various research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books, and weekly Chemistry and Engineering news journals. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read in scientific literature. However, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder® and STN®), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS' main offices are in Washington, DC and Columbus, Ohio.
How to participate in the awards event: sign up for free
Read more about the research developed by Ana Flávia Nogueira published in Jornal da Unicamp:
Brazilian research advances the understanding of materials that are the future of solar energy
IQ tests thin films for 3G solar cells
