To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the OM Award, we have published a booklet entitled "The History of the Zoological Society of Japan OM Award."

OM Award 20th Anniversary Booklet

The purpose of the OM Award is to support female researchers who, despite facing difficulties in continuing their research due to unstable statuses or similar reasons, strive to advance research in the field of animal science with a strong will and high aspirations. Based on this objective, the selection committee for this award has operated independently from the award selection committee of the academic society. Over the past 20 years, including this year, a total of 42 female researchers have received the OM Award.
This year, thanks to a further donation from Ms. Masako Oba, we will be able to continue presenting the OM Award for the next 20 years. Such long-term support for female researchers is rare and holds extremely significant implications for the future of scientific research.

This booklet is published to commemorate the fact that this award has been able to continue for 20 years, and to celebrate our continued support for female researchers for the next 20 years. As you will see when reading this booklet, the subsequent paths of the female researchers who have received this award so far have been varied. However, all of them have stated that receiving this award has been a great encouragement in their lives.
It is our sincere hope that the messages from the OM Award winners featured in this booklet will serve as an encouragement for your future endeavors.

Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Masako Oba for her support.

September 2021
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Zoological Society of Japan
Chairman Kazuo Inaba