A US$10,000 prize for scientific contribution was recently accepted by a UWI researcher pursuing a PhD in agricultural science at the university’s St. Augustine Campus.
Presented with the 2024 L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Caribbean Young Talents Award was Gillian Rowe. Alongside Rowe is co-awardee Dr. Savanna Lloyd, who teaches physics at UWI in Mona, Jamaica.
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The institution stated in a news release on December 10 that “Researchers at the UWI St Augustine Campus continue to make their mark on the global stage, earning widespread acclaim for their innovative work.”
According to the statement, Rowe, who was born in Jamaica, has continued this tradition by earning recognition on a global scale in the scientific community, solidifying UWI’s standing as a center for top-notch research and innovation.
The goal of Rowe’s study is to manage the rhizome rot disease in Jamaican ginger by creating sustainable, microbial-based remedies.
The university stated, “Among a cadre of 23 applicants, Ms Rowe’s research stood out to the jury comprised of eminent researchers from various disciplines. Her specific interests are microbiology, molecular plant-pathogen interactions, the soil microbiome, and bioinformatics. These scientific areas correlate with Ms Rowe’s aim to reduce environmental pollution while simultaneously encouraging plant biodiversity conservation.”
The L’Oreal Foundation for Women in Science recently released a statement claiming that Rowe was “one of the two young talents who will receive an endowment in the amount of US$10,000 to support your research work and encourage the development of your scientific career.”
The statement revealed Rowe “knows how important it is to encourage women and girls to pursue careers science-based careers. She notes that funding these research endeavours, particularly at the tertiary level, is sometimes challenging. Based on this fact, Ms Rowe not only appreciates but values the impact of her award in inspiring other women researchers to continue their work.”
Rowe remarked, “This is uniquely allowing women at the pre-doctoral career level to receive critical support from a global network, and it is extraordinary for each recipient to be inspired by experienced scientists with a wealth of knowledge.”
Lloyd claimed that receiving the medal gave her more confidence and allowed her to establish deep connections with other scientists.
She claimed that she now feels financially capable of pursuing her objectives. “Without the basic scientific tools and resources, I felt I was not in a position strategic enough to contribute to a project. I did not feel ready. But after discovering that I received the award, I knew I was.”
This year’s L’Oreal-Unesco Young Talent Caribbean Awards were open to early career and doctorate candidates from all throughout the region, just like the first one did last year. Those researchers who were working on specialized scientific projects were asked to apply.
But over the last 25 years, the two global organizations have collaborated to narrow the gender gap in science as well as to give scientists chances.
