The International Day of Women and Girls in Science – edition of 2023

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science has been celebrated since 2016 on 11 February, with the aim to promote the employment of women and girls in the sciences, to encourage the career development and participation in the decision-making processes in science, to recognize the achievements of women in science.

As in the past years, the Ministry of Education and Research has awarded Honorary Diplomas to several female researchers, in recognition of their prodigious activity and substantial contribution to the development of science. Two of the female researchers of the Institute of Zoology are among them: 

• Dr. Univ.Assoc.Prof. Elena Iurcu-Străistaru, senior scientific researcher in the Laboratory of Parasitology and Helminthology, and 
• Dr. Cristina Țugulea, senior scientific researcher in the Profesor Boris Vereshchaghin Entomology Laboratory.

More details on the event can be found at https://mec.gov.md/ro/content/ministerul-educatiei-si-cercetarii-apreciaza-contributia-valoroasa-femeilor-si-fetelor.

And the Academy of Sciences of Moldova awarded several ladies, who stood out for their successful careers in the field of science. Thus, two of our outstanding ladies, who combine research and management, were awarded with the Diploma of Honor of the ASM:

• Corr.Mem. Dr.Hab. Prof. Elena Zubcov, manager of the project 20.80009.7007.06 ”Determining the changes of aquatic environment, assessing the migration and impact of pollutants, establishing the patterns of the functioning of hydrobiocenoses and preventing the negative effects on ecosystems” – AQUABIO, the State Program (2020-2023), head of the Center of Research of Hydrobiocenoses and Ecotoxicology, and
• Dr.Hab. Assoc.Prof. Galina Galina Bușmachiu, manager of the project 20.80009.7007.02 ”Evolutionary changes of economically important terrestrial fauna, of rare and protected species in the conditions of anthropogenic and climatic changes” – EVOLANTER, the State Program (2020-2023), head of the Profesor Boris Vereshchaghin Entomology Laboratory.

It should be noted that the Academy of Sciences of Moldova marked the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, first of all, by organising the international scientific conference ”Heritage of yesterday – contribution to the development of a sustainable society of tomorrow”. The Director of the Institute of Zoology, Dr.Hab.Prof. Laurenția Ungureanu, made a presentation within the conference on the topic ”Fauna diversity and vulnerability on the territory of the Republic of Moldova in the context of climate change and the impact of environmental factors”. The conference can be followed by accessing the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1mI9gCl8W8.

The State University of Moldova published a message on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, available at https://usm.md/?p=16743.

An interview on the careers and life stories of women in research – the vice-rector for scientific activity and international relations of the State University of Moldova and the five female directors of research institutes of the university, including the Institute of Zoology, is available HERE. 

The administration of the Institute of Zoology congratulates the ladies awarded by MER and ASM in the 2023 edition of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and wishes all the female researchers of the Institute of Zoology good health and perseverance in achieving their professional goals.