Empowering Girls in Science through Recognition and Awards: A Model for Inclusion
In 2025, the National Competition ¡°Lebanon Quantum Vision,¡± organized by the Physics Department at the Faculty of Science, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, will feature a special ¡°Best Female Contribution¡± prize, awarded to a team composed exclusively of high school girls. This competition is held in celebration of the University¡¯s 150th anniversary and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. It builds upon a well-established tradition inspired by the annual Science Fair organized by the Faculty of Science. Since 2017, and in partnership with the L¡¯Or¨¦al-UNESCO For Women in Science program for the Levant region and L¡¯Or¨¦al Lebanon, this prize has been presented annually to an all-girls team participating in the Science Fair. The award recognizes the outstanding scientific achievements of young women while inspiring more girls to pursue STEM fields. It achieves this by providing role models, fostering engagement with female scientists, and empowering future leaders in science. The 2025 competition proudly continues this legacy, reinforcing the importance of gender inclusivity in science.
Contributed by: Professor Marie Abboud Mehanna, Head of the Physics Department, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
Professor Marie Abboud Mehanna (Saint Joseph University of Beirut)