The Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2020 has set new goals and role models for women across the globe. The award, which was jointly given to France's Emmanuelle Charpentier and US's Jennifer Doudna for their contributions to genome editing, has brought to fore once again the importance of encouraging women in science. They won the prize for the gene-editing technique known as the CRISPR-Cas9 DNA snipping "scissors", the first time a Nobel science prize has gone to a women-only team. The technique has been tipped for a Nobel nod several times in the past, but speaking to reporters in Stockholm via telephone link Charpentier said the call was still a surprise. Charpentier, 51, and Doudna, 56, are just the sixth and seventh women to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and this is the first time a Nobel science prize goes to a women-only team. And in terms of gender rights and women's visibility in science, they really did rewrite history. And while the victory itself is bound to be a huge inspiration for women in science or hoping to be, a statement by Charpentier following her big win is breathing even more energy and inspiration into young women.
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