Cuban Scientist Recognized as Industrial Leader in 2021 Latin American Women in Chemistry Award

November 13, 2021

Due to her excellence in the fight against COVID-19 and cancer treatments, environmental protection with new methods to eliminate metals from water and biomaterials applications, three women scientists from Latin America are recognized with the 2021 Latin American Women in Chemistry Award, recently reported by the Cubadebate platform.

Awarded by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Latin American Federation of Chemical Associations (FLAQ), this distinction is received by Clarissa Piccinin Frizzo from the Federal University of Santa María (Brazil), in the emerging leader category; Hilda Elisa Garay Pérez from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of BioCubaFarma (Cuba), as industrial leader.

Marta Irene Litter from the National University of San Martín and Conicet, the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research of Argentina, is also awarded in the academic leader section.

The three laureates were announced during the 34th Latin American Chemistry Congress (CLAQ 2020) in Colombia, in October, and will be honored at a virtual event on November 16.

Likewise, other special recognitions are awarded to Argentines María Julia Culzoni from the National University of Litoral and Conicet, and Fabiana del Valle Sánchez, NOAnut, Noroeste Nutrición SRL; as well as Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani from the Institute of Chemistry at Unesp, the State University of São Paulo, Brazil.

The note explains that, with this award, ACS and FLAQ promote gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Latin America, and also contribute to the development of a more advanced perspective in understanding the impact of diversity on scientific research and in the field of chemistry in general.

Diana Cristina Sinuco León, president of SCCQ and FLAQ, explained that the first edition of the Latin American Women in Chemistry Awards, within the framework of CLAQ 2020, is the best opportunity to showcase the enormous amount of amazing scientific work that many women in the region have carried out over the last four decades.

The awards will be held every two years along with the CLAQ conference, while nominations for the second edition of the awards will begin in June 2022.