Says Professor Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO from 1987 to 1999: "Sharing is key to the future for everyone, especially sharing knowledge. I believe strongly in the effectiveness of active cooperation between large private corporations and UNESCO, since it is society as a whole that must confront and master the great challenges in the world today". One graphic example of this idea in practice is a partnership between UNESCO and Groupe L'OREAL, a famous cosmetic company. The partnership is aimed at promoting women in scientific research on a worldwide scale.Why this task and why such attention given to it? Our magazine has already told you how Helena Rubinstein (HR)-an elite, though not so large cosmetic company - came up with the initiative to institute an international award. Women in Science, and named it after Helena Rubinstein, the company's founder. The initiative was upheld by one of the most authoritative organizations, UNESCO, whose goal has always been to help women worldwide in unfolding their great talents in science and in social activities. The first four prizes were presented on behalf of the two sponsors to four eminent women scientists from Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.* Helena Rubinstein was born in Poland in 1872. A competent chemist, she lived for some time in Australia, USA and France. The cosmetic company she founded - Helena Rubinstein (HR) - is spending much on scientific research and development, and producing both cosmetic and health creams. Today HR is but a small part of the cosmetic giant, Groupe L'Oreal. The first HR awards had great international repercussions and won public approval, and so in 1999 the L'Oreal empire signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO. Are there many women in science? Let's have a look. There are many of them in medicine as well as in biology; fewer in chemistry, and still fewer in physics and mathematics. Below I am going to cite some data of UNESCO, France and USA. This statistics ma ... Читать далее