Cuban scientist receives Latin American Women in Chemistry Award 2021
The Doctor in Chemical Sciences Hilda Garay Pérez, Head of the Synthetic Peptides Group at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), deserved the Latin American Women in Chemistry Award 2021, awarded by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Latin American Federation of Chemical Associations (FLAQ), in the Industrial Leader category, which recognizes women from the chemical, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, whose research and innovations have led to discoveries for the benefit of society.
The Latin American Women in Chemistry Award aims to promote gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the region, and also contribute to the development of a more advanced perspective in understanding the impact of diversity in scientific research and in the area of chemistry in general.
When the CIGB Communication Team interviewed to PhD. Garay, she expressed:
“Receiving this award is truly an honor for me, because it recognizes the work of many years devoted to science and it is simply a commitment. It is a commitment because it is the result of everyone in a group, because a result is never from a single person. However, it is the commitment that you have to give more, that every day you have to give yourself more. I just feel that way. It is an award that implies a greater sacrifice, a commitment to our work, to our science, to our people and to society ”.
It is the first time that the American Chemical Society and the Latin American Federation of Chemical Associations (FLAQ) have awarded this award. The call for the award was received by the Cuban Society of Chemistry, which is part of the Latin American Federation of Chemical Associations (FLAQ). At the beginning, we had not really thought about applying for the award, because we really know that the competition is difficult: there are many good researchers in Latin America, and many consecrated women in our own country, Cuba. Although we thought we might have a chance, we saw it as a bit remote.
“When we received the news, I was very happy, because it is not an award just for me. It is an award for Cuban science, it is an award for Cuban women, it is a way to encourage all young women to do so, that women have her space in our country, in science. Statistics show it: the number of women who are associated with science in Cuba, who are professors at universities, who are researchers, who work at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), the percentage of women who are doctors in science. And they have succeeded despite how difficult it is to also take care of the house and the children. As long as one loves science, there is room to achieve it; even, to achieve a prize, which is the recognition of the results and of so many years of consecration ”.
“I tell the young scientists who are in my laboratory and to whom I have access, that as long as science is loved and there is perseverance and desire to advance, it can be done. Step by step you can do a master’s degree and a doctorate, as long as you work with love ”.
comments on