Sony Group and Nature, a comprehensive science journal, have selected seven finalists for the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature, which supports the next generation of female researchers. Three winners will be selected from the seven finalists and announced at an awards ceremony to be held in Tokyo in February 7.
According to Nature Asia, the finalists were Professor K. Alan of the University of California, San Diego, Professor H. Gunes of Cambridge University in the UK, Associate Professor J. Li of the University of Adelaide, Australia, Associate Professor X. Li of Ningbo Oriental University of Science and Technology, China, Associate Professor A. Randles of Duke University, USA, Assistant Professor Y. Wang and Professor Y. Wu of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. No Japanese female researchers were selected.
Professor K. Alan is a leading expert in the integration of modern engineering and biology for the development of precision medicine. Professor H. Gunes is researching emotional intelligence and robotics. Associate Professor J. Lee is leading an intravascular imaging program. Associate Professor X. Lee is conducting innovative research into halide solid electrolytes and solid-state batteries.
Associate Professor A. Randles specializes in high performance computing and machine learning, Assistant Professor Y. Wang specializes in silicon photonics with a focus on the integration of on-chip light sources, and Professor Y. Wu is researching artificial materials to manipulate wave behavior, including energy absorption.
The proportion of women among active researchers worldwide is about 3% overall, and in the technology field in particular, it is less than 2%. The Sony Awards were launched with the aim of overcoming this situation. This is the first year of the awards, and an independent judging committee selected the finalists from applications from around the world, taking into consideration their research achievements and future potential. The three winners will each receive a prize of 3 US dollars (approximately 25 million yen).
