Over the past two decades, the percentage of women working in science has increased by about 12 percent, but even so, less than 30 percent of researchers are women. And a glass ceiling still exists for women in science. Only 3 percent of Nobel prizes for science have ever been awarded to women, and only one woman has been awarded the Fields Medal for Mathematics since its creation in 1936. This under-representation of women impacts the very quality of scientific research.

"It is in the interests of everyone to change their mindsets," says Jean Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L'Oréal and chairman of the L'Oréal Foundation. "Women and men both have a role to play."

That is why a new initiative was launched at Thursday's event aimed at mobilizing men within the scientific community to actively engage in efforts to promote gender equality in science.

In China, the Young Women in Science Fellowships were created 15 years ago. These have rewarded and spotlighted a group of young women scientists "who are showing that women are just as capable of changing the world with the power of science as men," as L'Oréal China CEO Stephane Rinderknech says.