Professor Maria Teresa Ruiz is one of the 2017 winners of the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards. Based at the Astronomy Department of the Universidad de Chile since 1979, she has won the prestigious award for her contribution to the study of brown dwarfs: a new type of celestial body halfway between a star and a planet, hidden in the darkness of the universe. Her observations on brown dwarfs could answer the universal question of whether there is life on other planets.

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards are presented every year to five women — one from each world region — in recognition of their scientific accomplishments. Each scientist has had a unique career path combining exceptional talent, a deep commitment to her profession and remarkable courage in a field still largely dominated by men.

Proposed by an international community of more than 2,000 leading scientists, the five laureates are selected annually by an independent international jury of 12 renowned scientists, including Professor Silvia Torres-Peimbert, the President of the IAU. Each laureate receives a prize of €100,000 for their contribution to science.

The ceremony takes place today at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris.

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 10 000 professional astronomers from almost 100 countries. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Links

• L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science website

Contacts

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 320 06 761
Cell: +49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars@eso.org