[News Space=Reporter seungwon lee] The '24th Korea L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Award' ceremony, sponsored by L'Oréal Korea (CEO Samuel Du Retail) and the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (Acting Secretary-General Byung-Soon Yoon) and hosted by the Women's Life Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum (Chairman Eun-Sook Hwang), was held on July 16 at the Sofitel Ambassador Seoul in Jamsil, Seoul.

This year's Academic Promotion Award went to Professor Mihee Lim (Director of the Metalloprotein Chemistry Research Group) of the Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), in recognition of her research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease at the molecular level and her research into the discovery of intracellular proteins that promote the toxicity of Alzheimer's disease-causing factors.

The following were selected for the fellowship category, which is given to emerging female scientists: ▲Kang Mi-kyung, Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Environmental Convergence Science, Korea University; ▲Jeon Ji-hye, Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University; ▲Cho Yu-na, Research Professor, College of Medicine, Pusan National University; and ▲Lee Jeong-hyeon, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Education, Kongju National University. The recipients of the Academic Promotion Award and the Fellowship will receive a plaque and a trophy, as well as research support funds of 30 million won and 7 million won, respectively.

Professor Lim Mi-hee of the Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, KAIST, winner of the 24th Korea L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science, received worldwide attention for her research into the cause of Alzheimer's disease (dementia) at the molecular level and her discovery of a link between the biological network composed of metals, proteins, neurotransmitters, and reactive oxygen species and the pathology of dementia.

We are challenging the development of a new concept in dementia treatment by identifying the link between multiple risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, suppressing their reactivity, removing toxicity, and improving cognitive ability.

Fellowship recipient Kang Mi-kyung, an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Environmental Convergence Science at Korea University, is researching a convergence treatment platform technology based on precision medicine, focusing on the 'drug delivery system' technology that allows drugs to be delivered only to the exact diseased part of the body to take effect.

Jeon Ji-hye, an assistant professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Gyeongsang National University, studies the pathophysiology of liver disease and metabolic dysfunction due to aging, as well as tissue regeneration and combined treatment strategies.

Jo Yu-na, a research professor at Pusan National University College of Medicine, is an immunology expert who studies how T cells, the immune cells in our body, fight cancer cells and uncovers the operating principles of signaling substances (cytokines) that allow immune cells to communicate with each other.

Lee Jeong-Hyeon, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Education at Kongju National University, has pioneered the identification of over 40 new and unknown hazardous compounds that are harmful not only to marine ecosystems but also to human health, and is contributing to the development of a health assessment technique for Korea's marine ecosystem and to widely publicizing the importance of marine environment conservation to the international academic community.

Following the awards ceremony, a panel discussion was held on the topic of ‘The Journey of Korean Female Scientists Towards the Global Stage.’

The panel included Dr. Yoo Myung-hee, the first Korean recipient of the L'Oréal-UNESCO International Award for Women in Science in 1998, Professor Kim Pil-nam of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) who received the 2019 L'Oréal-UNESCO International Award for Women in Science Fellowship, Professor Lim Mi-hee of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) who received this year's Academic Promotion Award, and Professor Kang Mi-kyung of Korea University who received this year's fellowship. They shared their experiences and insights on each other's global research activities, as well as advice for junior scientists.

Samuel du RETAIL, CEO of L'Oréal Korea, said, "I pay deep tribute to the passion and achievements of the awardees who are expanding the boundaries of science through constant exploration and challenges." He added, "Under the philosophy that 'the world needs science, and science needs women,' the L'Oréal Group is continuously contributing to strengthening the capabilities of female scientists and improving the research environment. We will actively support more female talents so that they can shine at the center of scientific and technological advancement."

Meanwhile, L'Oréal Korea has been selecting and awarding excellent female scientists in Korea since 2002 in cooperation with the UNESCO Korean Committee and the Women's Life Science and Technology Forum in order to contribute to the development of the female science community in Korea. A total of 105 winners (including multiple winners) have been awarded so far, and efforts are being made to develop the female science community by encouraging excellent female human resources to enter the science and technology field and supporting promising young female scientists.