The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) announced that 25 women have been granted the 2022 Early Career Fellowships.
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) announced that 25 women have been granted the 2022 Early Career Fellowships.
These scientists will receive up to USD 50,000 to lead research projects and establish research groups at their home institutions to maintain an international standard of research and attract scholars from all over the world to collaborate.
OWSD’s early career fellowships support outstanding women scientists to lead important research projects and create centers of international excellence in the institutes where they are employed. These institutes are based in the 66 countries identified by OWSD as ‘scientifically and technologically lagging’ (39 are in Africa).
As well as funds to build up laboratories and purchase equipment, the flexible grant pays special attention to the challenges that women researchers face and can be used to hire MSc students and technicians, invite international speakers, produce webinars, develop training programs as well as establish connections with industry.
During the 3-year fellowship, fellows will receive specific training to build on their leadership and management skills and develop connections with a variety of public and private sector partners to potentially convert their research into marketable products or guarantee its impact on a broader scale.
By improving their communication and outreach skills, fellows will also learn to effectively present their research to various audiences, thus attracting new collaborators and potential funders to ensure the sustainability of the research project.
The Aspen Institute Italia is this year funding for the first time, one Early Career fellowship with the OWSD. The fellowship provides a grant of USD $50,000 to an outstanding scientific researcher to create a centre of international excellence in the institute where she is employed.
The Aspen Institute-funded fellow, Dr. Mary Adjepong, is a Registered Dietician and Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Ghana. She is passionate about research that can improve the health outcomes of vulnerable individuals by focusing on nutrition and lifestyle.
Thanks to the OWSD Early Career Fellowship, she will be able to focus her research on producing complementary food products that are rich in essential fatty acid (EFA) and carotenoids to reduce childhood stunting, enhance cognitive development and improve ocular health in children.
Alberto Quadrio Curzio, President Emeritus of the Italian Academy of Sciences, OWSD Ambassador and Member of the Executive Committee of Aspen Institute Italia, had a pioneering role in proposing this agreement between Italian scientific institutions and OWSD, building a bridge towards future opportunities. “It is an agreement that marks the first step of a collaboration that already has its foundations between the Italian science system and OWSD” said Quadrio Curzio.
Tonya Blowers, Coordinator of the OWSD Secretariat said that “The Aspen Institute Italia shares a similar mission to OWSD, a belief in the importance of diversity and inclusion in order to ensure international economic progress.”
“Women from developing countries are typically marginalised in scientific debates and research. The Aspen Institute recognises that OWSD can bring women to the table not only to be heard but to lead their country’s scientific projects. Blowers added, “we hope that other Institutes and Foundations in Italy will follow the Aspen Institute’s lead and sponsor an OWSD Fellow.”
Originally published at UNESCO