Female scientist cancels trip over political pressure

A scientist who won a scientific award from L'Oreal Taiwan decided not to attend an awards ceremony in Paris after plans for her trip were disrupted by political interference, sources said yesterday.

Jacqueline Whang-Peng (彭汪嘉康) was awarded the "L'Oreal Taiwan Outstanding Woman Scientist Award" in January for her cancer research. The award was modeled after the "Women in Science Award" L'Oreal gives out in cooperation with UNESCO.

Taiwanese scientists are not eligible for the UNESCO award because the country is not a member of the UN, but Whang-Peng was still invited by L'Oreal to the awards ceremony in Paris for the international award winners, where she was to be honored separately.

She was later told that she could not be honored publicly at the event from March 2 to March 7 because of Taiwan's status, but could still attend seminars, meet other scientists and participate in other organized activities.

But shortly before she was scheduled to leave, the organizer of the event had not notified Whang-Peng of her itinerary, prompting her to call off the trip.

"I believe that organizers did their best, but political pressure was everywhere," said Whang-Peng, who said she decided not to attend the ceremony because of political interference from the international community.

"If my research has won positive affirmation, its value is the same, even without recognition from the organizers," she said.

Whang-Peng said she hoped that Taiwanese female scientists would be able to receive honors in front of the international media in the future.