The increase in the number of female students in the CIHEAM Masters and Master of Sciences, in all of its 4 institutes (Bari, Chania, Montpellier and Zaragoza) is remarkable. In addition, the last 4 prizes for the Best CIHEAM Master of Science thesis awarded by the Board of Directors were dedicated to women:

• Elsa CHEDID, for her research work on "DNA-based markers combined with High Resolution Melting analysis for olive oil authentication and adulteration." (CIHEAM Chania)
• Marwa MOUROU: “Isolation and molecular characterization of Xylella fastidiosa from different host plant species in Apulia region (Italy)” (CIHEAM Bari).
• Najla KSOURI: "Transcriptional Responses in Prunus persica under Conditions of Drought Stress using RNA Sequencing" (CIHEAM Zaragoza)
• Wided KHECHIMI: "Proposal for an indicator of cultural ecosystem services: Measuring the impact of recreational visits of Mediterranean wetlands on human well-being" (CIHEAM Montpellier).

Women are also very active within CIHEAM bodies: the current President of the CIHEAM Advisory Council is Mrs GHAOUTI Lamiae (Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Morocco), who replaced Dr Nahla Hwalla (Lebanon) And Valérie Baduel, France's delegate to the CIHEAM Board of Directors, was appointed this year Director General for Education and Research at the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food.