Dr. Ghadeer Omar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology & Biotechnology at An-Najah National University in Nablus, won the "Women in Science Hall of Fame" for this year and was honored by the State Department’s Middle East and North Africa Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Office.

Dr. Ghadeer received her BSc, MSc, and PhD from the University of Jordan, and is today the top Palestinian expert in the field of plant taxonomy. Among her singular accomplishments, she created the West Bank’s first herbarium—a collection of preserved and carefully identified plant species. She also conducts research to determine which plants are endangered, and works with other environmentally-minded stakeholders to advise the Palestinian Authority on the ecological impacts of development projects in the West Bank.

The Environment, Science, Technology and Health Regional Office started the “Distinguished Women in Science” program in 2010 through which women with unique achievements who are making a difference in their countries and around the world, not only directly through their work but also by inspiring girls to study science and become the next generation of innovators.

Dr. Sulaiman Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Science at An-Najah, thanked Dr. Omar for her hard work and congratulated her on this achievement; he also thanked the University’s administration for its continuous support of the herbarium and its development.