Suzana Nunes, professor of Chemical and Environmental Science and Engineering and Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), is named the 2023 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate for Africa and the Arab States. The Fondation L'Oréal and UNESCO recognize Nunes for her achievements in chemistry, especially in the development of polymeric materials and membranes for efficient low-carbon separation — materials useful for large-scale pharmaceutical and chemical applications, and for water purification. "She is inspiring the next generation of scientists to pursue research in environmental sustainability through her creative work and her leadership initiatives," said UNESCO Deputy Director-General Xing Qu. The professor said the creation of KAUST is a milestone in research excellence in the Middle East, and though she was not born in the Middle East or Africa, Saudi Arabia has been her home for the last 13 years. "I am honored to represent the region. This is a prestigious award, not only for me; it demonstrates Saudi Arabia's forward-looking Vision 2030, competing worldwide in the frontier of research," she said. "It also celebrates the support that the Kingdom is dedicating to women in science and business. The Kingdom has amazing women with talent, strength and motivation." Nunes is among five outstanding women scientists honored for their achievements. Together, the awardees represent different global regions: Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America. The International Awards will be presented at UNESCO headquarters on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at a ceremony in the presence of Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay and Fondation L'Oréal Président Jean-Paul Agon. With KAUST having a female student body of 39 percent, the professor highlighted the University's diversity. "The world needs diversity. It is not only about women and men. We must also count on the solutions and experiences of different nationalities, and of people with different creative ways of thinking. Luckily, KAUST is a place where diversity has been promoted from day one," she said. Before joining KAUST, Nunes led research on polymer and membrane science in Brazil and Germany. These professional experiences gave her the foundation to discern the most relevant challenges she wanted to tackle. She highlighted that KAUST has given her the freedom and resources, from the world-class core labs to bright students from all over the world, to accomplish these goals. "Challenges give me strength. I would not have made the same progress if I had not moved to KAUST," she said. The professor shared her gratitude to the university for her award nomination. "In addition to research, the award is about contributing to women in science and service to education, which has been possible first as an associate dean and now as vice provost with the trust of the KAUST leadership," she said. "It would be a real waste for humanity if women were not called to contribute to scientific solutions. To enable women and men to excel to their full potential, they must be exposed to scientific topics and challenges, preferentially from an early age," Nunes said. Dr. Tony Chan, KAUST president said: "This award showcases Professor Suzana's extraordinary accomplishments in the field of membrane chemistry and applications. "Her example is bound to inspire other women to pursue their passion, particularly in the fields of science and technology development. "This is what KAUST is all about; supporting our researchers in their quest to discover and innovate in order to serve the common purposes of man." — SG
