Doctor Asel Sartbaeva becomes ambassador for UNICEF’s “Girls in Science” programme

Bishkek/London, 11 February – On February 11, marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UNICEF is pleased to announce Dr. Asel Sartbaeva as Ambassador of the “Girls in Science” programme. Dr. Asel Sartbaeva is a world-famous scientist and chemistry professor at University of Bath and Royal Society Research Fellow in the UK, leading a ground-breaking research to make childhood vaccines safe in all temperatures. In addition, Dr. Asel Sartbaeva has a distinctive interest in children rights and on popularization of science on among children and is currently working on the production of films for primary school children that explain experimental chemistry and processes such as crystallization and polymerization.

In 2020, UNICEF launched “Girls in Science” programme to empower 500 girls from new settlements and rural areas so they can excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and get more career opportunities. To the date, almost 400 schoolgirls are participating in additional classes for republican test preparation to be enrolled in science and IT faculties after school. “Girls in Science” programme targets 14-18-year-old 500 schoolgirls and will be supported to be peer educators and role models for younger girls in their communities, potentially reaching and inspiring hundreds of thousands of girls as active and effective agents of change. Girls, participating in the programme, named Dr. Asel Sartbaeva as their role model in pursuing a science career path.

This year’s celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science will address the theme “Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19”, and gather experts working in fields related to the pandemic from different parts of the world.