L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science Honors Six Young Talents scientists driving the future of research in the Levant

Beirut, Lebanon – November 20, 2025 – The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program celebrated its twelfth edition in the Levant, honoring six exceptional young women researchers whose groundbreaking scientific work is shaping the future of research and innovation in the region. The ceremony, held under the patronage and in the presence of Her Excellency Ambassador Sahar Baassiri at the Middle East Airlines Training Center in Beirut, reaffirmed the core belief driving the program worldwide: The world needs science, and science needs women.

In her speech, H.E. Ambassador Sahar Baassiri affirmed that empowering women in scientific fields goes beyond being an urgent national and regional necessity; it reflects a deep conviction that talent and creativity know neither gender nor borders. She emphasized that each laureate and ambitious young woman today carries not only an award, but a powerful message — one that positions her as a role model lighting the way for others. She explained that the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science programme is not merely about honoring scientific achievements, but about rewriting the narrative of women in science and inspiring a new generation of girls to transform their passion for research and innovation into remarkable accomplishments that help shape a brighter and more advanced future for all humanity.

While women still represent only 31.1% of researchers worldwide, and remain underrepresented among major scientific recognitions, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program continues to make strides. Since 1998, the initiative has supported more than 4,700 women scientists globally, including 137 international laureates, seven of whom later received the Nobel Prize. Since 2014 in the Levant region alone, 95 women scientists have been awarded — each advancing research, impact, visibility and representation.

Mrs. Emilie Wahab Harb, Managing Director of L’Oréal Lebanon, emphasized L’Oréal’s long-term commitment to advancing women in STEM, saying: “As a company built on innovation, L’Oréal profoundly recognizes that the future of science lies in the hands of diverse, brilliant minds, especially those of women. This profound understanding underpins our long-term investment in the future of knowledge, innovation, and society. The remarkable achievements of these six young researchers demonstrate the extraordinary impact women are driving in the Levant today, and we are determined to amplify their voice, scale their breakthroughs, and open more pathways for women in STEM across our region. Our role as a company is to turn belief into action — removing barriers, enabling access, and ensuring that women everywhere can lead, contribute and shape the world with equal force.”

This year's edition honored six Young Talents—three postdoctoral and three PhD researchers—selected from over 100 applicants based on their exceptional scientific excellence. Their rigorous selection process was led by a distinguished jury chaired by Professor Marie Abboud Mehanna, Professor of Physics at Saint Joseph University of Beirut and a former L’Oréal-UNESCO alumna (2009).

Meet the 2025 Levant Young Talents and their Fields of Research:

Postdoctoral Researchers

• Dr. Mayis Aldughmi (Jordan) — University of Jordan

Developing exercise therapy via telerehabilitation to provide accessible Physiotherapy for Parkinson’s patients- improving sleep, daily energy and quality of life from home.

• Dr. Reem Hasan Obaydo (Syria) — Ebla University

Creating resilient, green, AI-powered analytical methods to detect falsified and substandard drugs — ensuring safer access to medicines in conflict-affected regions.

• Dr. Rita Hleihel (Lebanon) — American University of Beirut

Investigating the mechanisms of metastatic breast cancer spread and discovering novel therapeutic targets - improving treatment outcomes.

PhD Candidates

• Dr. Farah A. Lazem (Iraq) — Al-Kharkh University of Science

Designing terahertz-based biosensors for ultra-early cancer detection — enabling rapid, non-invasive diagnostics with major potential impact.

• Dr. Ghina El Hage Chehade (Lebanon) — Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Studying extremophile microorganisms from Lebanese salt marshes to produce biodegradable bioplastics — a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.

• Dr. Sally Youssef Al-Moualem (Syria) — Damascus University

Engineering novel immunoligands using advanced AI tools and pharmaceutical biotechnology to activate natural killer cells against cancer — paving the way for next-generation targeted immunotherapies.

Distinguished guests, including Mr. Paolo Fontani, Director of the UNESCO Office in Beirut, and Dr. Chadi Abdallah, Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon, joined the award ceremony, affirming the collaborative spirit behind this initiative. The ceremony, hosted by journalist Raneem Bou Khzam, welcomed over 300 attendees, including diplomatic, social, and economic figures, as well as representatives from academic, scientific, and research institutions.

About the Fondation L’Oréal

The Fondation L’Oréal supports and empowers women to shape their future and make a difference in society, focusing on three major areas: scientific research, inclusive beauty and climate action. 

Since 1998, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has worked to empower more female scientists to overcome barriers to progression and participate in solving the great challenges of our time, for the benefit of all. For 27 years, it has supported more than 4700 women researchers from over 140 countries, rewarding scientific excellence and inspiring younger generations of women to pursue science as a career. 

Convinced that beauty contributes to the process of rebuilding lives, the Fondation L’Oréal helps vulnerable women to improve their self-esteem through free beauty and wellness treatments. It also enables underprivileged women to gain access to employment with dedicated vocational beauty training. On average, around 16,000 people have access to these free treatments every year and more than 35,000 people have taken part in professional beauty training, since the beginning of the programme. 

Finally, women are affected by persistent gender-based discrimination and inequalities, exacerbated by climate change. While they are on the frontline of the crisis, they remain under-represented in climate decision-making. The Women and Climate programme of the Fondation L’Oréal supports, in particular, women who are developing climate action projects addressing the urgent climate crisis and raises awareness of the importance of gender-sensitive climate solutions.

About UNESCO

With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.