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Ambassador Oliver's Remarks at Reception Honoring Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus
February 21, 2007
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L’Oreal Reception
February 21, 2007
Welcome everyone, and thank you for joining us here this evening. As some of you know, I just got back to Paris this morning after spending several weeks in Washington DC, and I must admit that I am in somewhat of a sort of culture shock. Yesterday I left a city covered with ice and snow, a city where I was climbing up and down over banks of frozen snow, and driving my four-wheeled-drive jeep down to the State Department. Today I am in Paris, where the cherry trees are in bloom, and spring is on its way.
Along with celebrating the imminent arrival of spring, we get to celebrate yet another year of the L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Program, and once again we have the honor of recognizing an extraordinary woman scientist, Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus, who is the 2007 North American L’Oreal Laureate.
During the past few months there has been a great deal of discussion at UNESCO about effective public-private partnerships. In my opinion the L’Oreal-UNESCO partnership is a perfect example of a private sector corporation and an intergovernmental organization working closely together to promote a common goal, a partnership that is designed to help encourage women and girls to realize their full potential in the area of science. It is a partnership based on clear synergies that benefit both sides by giving public recognition to the achievements of outstanding women scientists.
So let me extend my thanks and gratitude to Mrs. Beatrice Dautresme, Mrs. Jennifer Campbell, Ms. Sam Mattingly and other members of the L’Oreal extended family, including members of the jury, for this wonderful UNESCO initiative and for being here with us this evening
As I look around this room, I see many talented individuals with expertise in science, in diplomacy, in academia, but I think there is only one person here who is an internationally recognized expert in carbon nanotubes. That individual is of course Dr. Dresselhaus.
All I know about carbon nanotubes is that they are cylindrical structures made entirely of carbon atoms that are unique due to their combination of small size, extremely high mechanical strength, and high electrical conductivity, and I learned all that this afternoon.
Thanks to Dr. Dresselhaus’s research, and her pioneering work on the conceptualization of the creation of carbon nanotubes, scientists now have the tools and fundamental understanding necessary to analyze these and other nanoscale structures, which will have many practical everyday applications ranging from aerodynamic transportation materials to drug delivery systems.
In addition to doing her research, Dr. Dresselhaus has been unstinting in her efforts to promote increased participation in physics by women. In 1973 she received a Carnegie Foundation grant to encourage women to study in traditionally male-dominated fields, something that is of particular interest here at UNESCO. Perhaps I would have studied science instead of economics if Dr. Dresselhaus had been around when I was in school.
Born in Brooklyn, and raised in the Bronx, Dr. Dresselhaus is the daughter of immigrant parents who had to struggle and sacrifice to ensure that their children got a good education. Fortunately Dr. Dresselhaus was a math whiz, and after receiving an unheard-of perfect score in math in a New York citywide competition, she got accepted at the highly competitive Hunter College High School in New York.
She went on to study at Hunter College, Radcliffe, and Cambridge University, before getting her doctorate from the University of Chicago. Currently she is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Physics at MIT in Cambridge, Mass, one of the foremost research institutions in the world, where her husband, Dr. Gene Dresselhaus, is also a noted MIT researcher. Unfortunately for Dr. Gene Dresselhaus, we cannot recognize his work this evening as we are only celebrating the accomplishments of women in science.
Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus has also worked in the area of public policy in the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as served as the President of the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
At one point in describing her early life she stated “All of the hardships I encountered provided me with the determination, capacity for hard work, efficiency, and a positive outlook in life that have been so helpful to me in realizing my professional career.”
No doubt these qualities have helped her in her personal life as well, as she and her husband have four children and several grandchildren. In addition to her husband, one of her sons is here, along with her daughter, her son-in-law, and her granddaughter.
Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus is the American dream come true. We are all very proud of her, and grateful to L’Oreal for recognizing her accomplishments. So please join me in raising a glass to Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus.
Congratulations, and best wishes for your continued success.
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