For the 17th year in a row, L'Oréal ADRIA and the Croatian Commission for UNESCO at the Ministry of Culture and Media, under the auspices of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, awarded four young scientists from the field of natural sciences, including interdisciplinary fields, with individual scholarships worth 5,000 euros.
Ines Haberle (Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb), Andrea Hloušek-Kasun (Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb), Antonija Mravak (Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Split) and Ivana Sopek Merkaš (Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinska Toplica) are announced 2023 winners of national fellowships within the L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" program in Croatia.
The ladies were recognized for their outstanding scientific research work in the fields of the exploitation and conservation of marine organisms, chemistry, physics, and medicine. The award, worth 5,000 euros, are designated for the realization of their significant scientific research, which will be conducted in Croatia.
This year awarded scientists were revealed at the award ceremony held on May 23, 2023, in the National House of The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb in the presence of the Minister of Culture and Media, Ministry of Science and Education, representative of President, to French Embassy, French-Croatian Chamber of Commerce academician Zvonko Kusić, etc.
Academician Zvonko Kusić, the President of the Selection Committee of the Program, stated that he is impressed by the fact that there are hardworking, conscientious, and gifted young people who work patiently and selflessly. This observation gives us optimism about the future development of society.
The election committee, led by Academician Zvonko Kusić, along with respected members of the Croatian academic community including Academician Vida Demarin, Academician Krešimir Nemec, Academician Vladimir Paar, Prof. Helena Jasna Mencer, Ph.D., Prof. Đurđica Ugarković, Ph.D., Dr. Katica Biljaković, Prof. Marica Ivanković, Ph.D., Prof. Leandra Vranješ Markić, and Assoc. Prof. Zrinka Ljubešić, Ph.D., who herself was the previous recipient of this prestigious award, selected the fellowship recipients from among 67 received applications.
One of this year's four fellows, Ines Haberle, M.Sc., expressed that the "For Women in Science" award holds multiple significance for her.
"First and foremost, it is a recognition of the efforts, time, and sacrifices I have invested so far in conducting research and writing my dissertation," she stated. "Simultaneously, it is a tribute to all those who wholeheartedly supported my decisions and contributed to the point where I am today - my family, colleagues, and friends. Considering the topic I am involved with, which aims to contribute to the sustainable development and preservation of our environment, this scholarship also signifies the acknowledgment of the importance of such contributions to our society and serves as a strong motivation for further progress. Finally, becoming an alumna of this program is an exceptional honor that grants me the opportunity, as well as the responsibility, to share my knowledge and experiences and to guide others along their own paths, thereby encouraging future young scientists to achieve their goals," - Haberle emphasized.
Through the L'Oréal - UNESCO National Program "For Women in Science" since 2006, 66 Croatian female scientists in the final phase of their doctoral dissertations have been awarded. The program recognizes young female scientists for their dedicated effort and work, and at the same time encourages and encourages them to further research and scientific training. More important, "For Women in Science" awards are a form of support for their further professional development and an incentive to continue to pursue science in Croatia.
