Ethiopian scientist is one of the five exceptional women honored for scientific excellence L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science today. Each woman represents a unique career path combining exceptional talent, a deep commitment to her profession and remarkable courage in a field still largely dominated by men.
Dr Segenet Kelemu is the Director General of International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya. The first women from her region to attend what was then Ethiopia’s only university, Dr. Segenet is being honored for her research on how microorganisms living in symbiosis with forage grasses can improve their capacity to resist disease and adapt to environmental and climate change. Her work is providing new solutions for ecologically responsible food crop production, especially by local, small-scale farmers. After having studied in the United States and worked in Colombia, she returned to Africa and is now at the heart of an impressive international scientific research network.