Dr. Mary-Claire King, a distinguished geneticist who has made influential discoveries in multiple fields of research, received the seventh Weizmann Women & Science Award. Established in 1994 by Sara Lee Schupf, National Chair Emerita of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (ACWIS), the biennial award honors outstanding women scientists in the U.S. who have made a major contribution in science, technology, or engineering.

Ms. Schupf cited Dr. King's "monumental accomplishments [that] have the potential to improve the quality of life for millions," adding that Dr. King, who is the American Cancer Society Research Professor of Genome Sciences and Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, "embodies the spirit of the Weizmann Women & Science Award, and is a superb role model for young women."

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sent a video, shown at the ceremony, in which she congratulated Dr. King and emphasized that more work must be done to encourage young women to enter science-related fields. Senator Clinton also extended her congratulations to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science for "continued leadership on behalf of women and scientists in the U.S. and worldwide."

The Weizmann Institute's Prof. Ruth Arnon, Paul Ehrlich Professor of Immunology, discussed the critical role of female scientists both at Weizmann and in Israel as a whole. One of the scientific community's most highly regarded immunologists, Prof. Arnon's many achievements include co-inventing Copaxone, a drug that is a mainstay for treating multiple sclerosis.

Prof. Arnon praised Dr. King's work and career as exemplifying the role of women in science in the U.S., saying, "perhaps we women have not broken the glass ceiling yet, but if we are hardheaded, we might."

CBS News 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl, described by Ms. Schupf as another "formidable role model for women," presented the a
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Contact: Jennifer Manning
jennifer@acwis.org
212-895-7952
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
9-Aug-2006