Estonian researchers Renu Geetha Bai, Katriin Reedo and Kerttu Rozenvalde are awarded with the Baltic Women in Science fellowships, within the program co-organised by the Baltic National Academies of Sciences and National Commissions for UNESCO.
They receive the fellowships of €7,000 in recognition of their research so far and to support further research in their scientific field.
The joint award ceremony for the Baltic laureates will take place next Thursday 27 November at 13:00 at the Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga and will broadcast live on the website of the Estonian Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Renu Geetha Bai (Estonian University of Life Sciences) won the fellowship in the category of Doctor of Sciences in Natural Sciences including Environmental Sciences for her study in development of Algal Nano Shield – a nanoencapsulated astaxanthin-fucoidan formulation to enforce the positive characteristics and reduce the limitations of both elements. In the future the created formulation could be added to skin care products to prevent photodamage and limit skin cancer risk.
Katriin Reedo (Tallinn University of Technology) won the fellowship in the category of Doctoral Candidate in Engineering and Technology for her study that is expected to significantly advance the understanding and development of pyrite-based solar cells – an emerging and potentially the most cost-effective photovoltaic technology available today. The findings will have strong implications for improving access to sustainable energy, potentially reducing the cost of solar technologies, and in cooperation with European Space Agency introducing a new class of photovoltaic materials for space applications.
Dr. Kerttu Rozenvalde (University of Tartu) won the fellowship in the category of Doctor of Sciences in Humanities and the Arts for the study on using English as a language of instruction at the University of Tartu – looking into how students navigate English at the university, how they perceive their linguistic competences concerning (implicit) language requirements, and how these experiences reflect hidden language policies in the Estonian higher education context.
The chair of the Estonian selection committee, Academy Member Anne Kahru, said that the role of women scientists in society is highly multifaceted: they are intelligent and curious researchers, supervisors of students, creators of new ideas and those who put them into practice, but they also wish to dedicate themselves to home life. “From my own experience I know that this is not an easy task, but it is worth the effort. Therefore, it is extremely important to give these women scientists confidence, self-belief and momentum. I am pleased that the winners of this year’s competition represent three Estonian universities, different scientific fields and also different nationalities. While there are slightly more women than men completing doctoral studies, only a third of professors are women. I hope this competition will help bring closer the time when women and men are equally represented at the top of the academic career ladder, at full professorship level,” she said.
Kairi Värv, Head of Knowledge System Area at the Ministry of Education and Research, noted that Estonian research is built on persistent, courageous and dedicated scholars. “The ‘Women in Science’ scholarship is more than a recognition – it is a clear signal that Estonia values talent regardless of gender, background or field of research,” Värv said. “Increasing the visibility of women researchers is important both to ensure equal treatment and to offer inspiring role models for girls and women.”
In total, 38 women scientists applied for the three scholarships: 19 doctoral students and 19 researchers with a doctoral degree.
The aim of the joint fellowship is to support and ignite young women scientists in their pursuit of a career in science in the Baltic States. Estonian fellowships are funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.
Watch from the videos, how the laureates are introducing their research projects.
Short overviews of Latvia’s and Lithuania’s “Women in Science” laureates
Latvian laureates (51 applications: 38 PhD level, 13 doctoral students):
- Dr. Monta Brīvība (Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre) research focuses on studying the Latvian population genome and integrating genomic data into healthcare.
- Elīna Pavlovska (University of Latvia) created a model to describe the behaviour of electrons in collision devices and a method for identifying unique “fingerprints” of electrons.
- Dr. Jana Kukaine (Rīga Stradiņš University) is a leading researcher of feminist theory and feminist art in Latvia. She synthesizes insights from feminist and environmental humanities, seeking theoretical tools that allow highlighting the specificity of art in the Baltic region.
Lithuanian laureates (78 applications: 59 PhD level, 19 doctoral students):
- Dr. Mažena Mackoit-Sinkevičienė (Vilnius University Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy) is developing quantum technologies to enable significantly more precise measurements and move towards the next generation of quantum sensors and clocks.
- Greta Striganavičiūtė (Institute of Forestry at Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry) studies the accumulation of environmental pollutants in forest ecosystems, the resulting physiological responses in trees, and the possibilities for protecting different tree species from these effects.
- Dr. Rūta Ubarevičienė (Institute of Sociology at Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences) is studying the interaction between migration and segregation processes and the possibilities of applying research findings to policymaking.