This Thursday 16 from 6:00 p.m. in rooms 1 and 2 of the Center Culturel des Sciences (C3) will be held the award ceremony for the RAICES and Leloir 2022 edition awards. The two awards aim to recognize and make visible the contributions made to the System National science, technology and innovation and strengthen international cooperation ties. The event can be followed from the Youtube channel of the Ministry of Sciences.

This eleventh edition will be led by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Daniel Filmus; who will be accompanied by the National Director for the Promotion of Science Policy of the Ministry, Karina Pombo; and the general coordinator of the RAICES program, Carolina Mera.

The RAÍCES awards are intended for Argentine scientists, researchers and technologists who reside abroad and actively collaborate in strengthening the National System of Science, Technology and Innovation (SNCTI); while the LELOIR Prizes are intended for foreign scientists, researchers and technologists who have worked to strengthen the scientific and technological capacities of our country. This year’s winners can be found on the awards site.

About the selection process
The 2022 call began with an open process in which the coordinators of the networks of Argentine scientists abroad and the highest authorities of the institutions of the national system of science, technology and innovation received the invitation to nominate. 74 nominations were received, 78% from scientists and 22% from women scientists.

30% of the applications were for LELOIR awards, that is, foreigners residing both in Argentina and abroad, with a notable history of collaboration with the SNCTI. The remaining 70%, which correspond to scientists from our country residing abroad, went to candidates for the RAICES prize.

27% of applications were raised by NETWORK coordinators (Canada, United States, Germany, Israel, Italy, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, United Kingdom); meanwhile, the remaining 73% were presented by rectors and deans of Argentine universities, CONICET and its Scientific and Technological Centers (CCT), and other SNCTI institutions.

Regarding the countries of residence where the nominated scientists carry out their work, they are: Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, United States, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Applications were assessed by peer committees, divided by thematic areas, in which the diversity of representation by discipline, gender and country of residence was taken into account. Each Commission generated an order of merit which was sent to a general jury composed of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Daniel Filmus; a member of the Table of Coordinators of REDES, Ángeles Moliné –coordinator of the Spanish Network–; and a member of the Council of Universities of the RAICES program, Darío Kusinsky, from the José C. Paz National University.

It should be noted that in this 2022 edition, a special mention will be given to Águeda Menvielle, as a precursor and promoter of the RAICES program since 2003. She will receive the distinction of the RAICES prize for her valuable and extensive contribution to the program since its inception. until 2016, as well as the Leloir Prize distinction for international collaboration for her performance as National Director of International Relations of the Ministry of Science between 1998 and 2016.