Dresselhaus wins 2007 L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science

February 22, 2007

Institute Professor and Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering Mildred Dresselhaus is one of five to be awarded the 2007 L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science. She and four other recipients, each representing a different continent, were named at a ceremony today at UNESCO House in Paris.

As reported by the MIT News Office, "Dresselhaus was selected for 'conceptualizing the creation of carbon nanotubes,' according to L'Oréal and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Due to their small size, high strength and electrical conductivity, carbon nanotubes are ideal for new materials used in objects such as lightweight bicycles and flat-panel screens."

The L'Oreal/UNESCO Awards for Women in Science program, established in 1998, aims to improve the position of women in science by recognizing, every year, outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress. The awards are a result of a partnership between the French cosmetics company L'Oréal and UNESCO. The same partnership awards research fellowships to young women scientists engaged in exemplary and promising projects (UNESCO-L’ORÉAL Fellowships).

Dresselhaus has received numerous awards, including the US National Medal of Science and 19 honorary doctorates worldwide. She served as the Director of the Office of Science at the US Department of Energy in 2000–2001.

As researcher, Dresselhaus currently focuses on electronic materials in nanoscience and nanotechnology -- specifically on carbon related materials, novel forms of carbon, including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, porous carbons, activated carbons and carbon aerogels, as well as other nanostructures, such as bismuth nanowires and the use of nanostructures in low dimensional thermoelectricity. She recently headed a national Department of Energy Study on "Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy," including hydrogen production, storage, and use.

Congratulations Millie!