It
is gratifying to know that a company like L'OREAL recognizes the value of
rewarding women for their contributions to solving crucial scientific
problems, and encourages women to follow scientific careers.

Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has been dedicated to eliminating all
forms of discrimination and promoting gender equality., Optimos, Inc. Optimos also has an offshore development center in Pune, India that
focuses on supporting package applications, business process outsourcing and
custom application development and maintenance. Ernst + Young refers to all the members of
the global Ernst + Young organization.

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Myriam Sarachik, a distinguished
condensed matter physicist, honored professor, and member of the academic
staff of City College of the City University of New York, has been announced
as this year's L'OREAL-UNESCO for Women in Science North American Laureate and
will be honored in a special ceremony that takes place in Paris, France today,
Thursday, March 3rd, 2005 ."
A leader in the international physics community, Dr.org/science/women).
Outside the technology world, Puri also is active, founding USINPAC, a
bipartisan political action committee for the growing Indian American
community with over 27,000 members nationwide. I
am very proud to work with such quality people. These programs include mentoring
initiatives, women's forums, an annual Women's Leadership Conference, and
professional women's networks, both inside and outside the firm, that raise
women's stature at Ernst + Young and in the business world at large.

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Sarachik 's career in
experimental condensed matter physics has centered around the study of
electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of various materials at very
low temperatures. Sarachik is one of five outstanding women scientists representing five
different regions of the world."

About Optimos
Optimos provides state-of-the-art information technology solutions to the
public sector and Fortune 500 firms. Ernst + Young's Gender Equity
Strategy and Flexibility Strategy teams , lead by senior client-serving partner
Billie Williamson, are dedicated to the development and implementation of
programs designed specifically to help retain and advance women leaders. Its 20-year
signature initiative, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most
important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America.

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This year's other outstanding honorees are:

Zohra BEN LAKHDAR -AKROUT - Laureate for Africa
Professor of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tunis, Tunisia
For her experiments and models on infrared spectroscopy and its
applications to pollution detection and medicine.
Puri's direct leadership, an innovative program within Optimos that assists
select minority and disadvantaged technology companies across the nation
seeking to do business with government and commercial firms.
Ernst + Young believes that its commitment to women's development and
advancement is integral to the firm's success. This
is a broad-based effort that combines an active career development process
with an approach that embeds flexibility.

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Her work is valued both for its fundamental scientific
merit and for its potential application in enhancing the technology that has
revolutionized communications, computation and the way we gather and store
information , bringing ever closer the realization of quantum computation or
faster, smarter computers.

Fumiko YONEZAWA - Laureate for Asia/Pacific
Professor of Physics, University of Keio, Yokohama , Japan
For her pioneering theory and computer simulations of semi-conductors and
liquid metals . Almost 3000 people work in L'OREAL's fourteen research
centers in France, Asia and America, which are responsible for the
registration of over 500 patents annually. "More than 2,300 employees, including more
than 100 partners, principals and directors, work on a formal flexible work
arrangement.

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Dr. Working with industry leading software vendors,
Optimos provides solutions that are state-of-the-art, reliable and cost
effective.

About Ernst + Young
Ernst + Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to
restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality
of financial reporting.

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In addition to being named for Women in Science's North American Laureate,
this former president of the American Physical Society, one of only four women
in the organization's 105 year history, will also receive the 2005 Oliver E.

Dominique LANGEVIN - Laureate for Europe
Directeur de Recherches CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiques des Solides,
Universite Paris Sud, Orsay, France
For her fundamental investigations of detergents, emulsions and foams. Puri. The firm continues to distinguish itself through its 'People First' programs
and flexible work environment

NEW YORK, Today , leading professional services
firm Ernst + Young LLP was recognized by Working Mother magazine as one of the
"100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Its 100,000 people in 140 countries pursue the
highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing a range
of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of auditing,
accounting, tax, and transactions.

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Each year, for Women in Science lauds five women from different regions of
the globe, selected by an international jury of their peers for their
commitment to breakthrough science and awards 15 fellowships to young women at
doctoral or post-doctoral level. While designing science
education programmes specifically for girls, UNESCO has set up a series of
academic chairs to linking women scientists around the world.

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Firms completed a 550-question application, the most rigorous of
its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to
support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs
and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board positions
and management ranks.

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newscom. Under Mr.

Ernst + Young LLP Marks Its Eighth Consecutive Year as One of the '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers'

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com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020306/NYW023LOGO )
The for Women in Science Award program, sponsored by L'OREAL, the world's
leading cosmetics company , in partnership with the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is given annually to established
women scientists at the height of their careers. Located in the Northern Virginia
technology corridor, Optimos has been providing enterprise computing solutions
to clients for over 12 years.

This category will provide information on sites covering
various aspects of women and science/technology, including links to technical and professional organizations geared to women and support groups for women in the sciences and technology.

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Belita KOILLER - Laureate for Latin America
Professor of Physics, Department of Solid-State Physics, Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
For her innovative theoretical research on electrons in disordered
materials such as glass. This demonstrates to all our people, that it is possible to
succeed personally and reach the highest levels of our organization -- even
for those trying to balance work and family."
Beyond formal flexible work arrangements, the firm continues to invest in
resources and programs that have set industry standards, making it easier for
people to find the flexibility they need to succeed personally as well as
professionally.

About Working Mother
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 3 million readers
and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.

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(Logo: http://www. Now, awards are given in alternate years to scientists in
the life and material/physical sciences. CHANTILLY, Va.
Mr.
According to Stanley Gutowski, Accenture Partner for US Government
Practice, "Mr.

These benefits include parental leave, back-up child and
adult care, adoption benefits, concierge services, additional days off around
National holidays, and most recently, fellowships for people who want to
volunteer in developing countries.

Survey Methodology:
To apply for the Working Mother 100 Best, companies provided Working
Mother magazine with detailed information on eight areas of work/life
including: childcare, culture, flexibility, parental leave, women's
advancement , total compensation, work/life culture, and family-friendly
programs.

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"I am completely overwhelmed by this honor," says Dr.
The for Women in Science award programme was originally set up to honor
the life sciences.com).

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Buckley Prize in Condensed Matter Physics later in March. The Organization
is also developing new indicators to measure women's access to scientific
training and to help develop appropriate policies in its 190 Member States
(http://www. The success of Optimos is
testimony to Puri's innovative ability as a leader. Firms were also required to submit benefits handbooks
and results of employee surveys.ey.

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Myriam Sarachik Distinguished City College of New York Professor Selected to Receive Prestigious International Women in Science Award

loreal.unesco. He's wedded visionary
technology and forward-looking business strategies with a commitment to public
service -- and created a multimillion-dollar enterprise that is a win-win for
both his company and the minority entrepreneurs Optimos helps bootstrap.
Through its "People First" culture, Ernst + Young has distinguished itself
when it comes to providing flexibility, and encouraging its entire workforce ,
including working mothers, to have a successful career while at the same time
leading fulfilling lives outside of work.

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Sarachik."
"I am really honored by this recognition." The 2005 list marks the eighth
consecutive year -- and ninth overall -- that the firm has received this
distinction .
"Ongoing recognition as one of the best companies for working mothers is
testimony to Ernst + Young's commitment to providing its people with a quality
career experience," says Billie Williamson , Americas Director of Gender Equity
and Flexibility, Ernst + Young LLP.

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It means a great deal to me
that the leadership at Accenture saw fit to make this nomination. All of us at
Optimos hold Accenture in the highest possible regard so this is very special
to me," said Mr. "The success of Optimos over the past 12 years is
really due to the talent, dedication and community spirit of our employees.

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"It is
especially meaningful because I am receiving the recognition from my peers.
Since the L'OREAL-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards began in 1998, 91
women from 45 countries have been the recipients of these awards. 55 % are women -- a percentage
unmatched anywhere else in the industry (http://www. In 2004, Puri was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the
Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council for "his solid commitment to
community involvement. Further information about Ernst + Young
and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at
http://www .

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L'OREAL is the world's number one cosmetics company, present in 130
countries worldwide .

" The council cited the creation of Olliance under Mr.com/perspectives.

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The award carries with it a cash-prize of $100,000
dollars. The program also
supports the aspiration of promising young women scientist through fellowship
component., a leading provider
of enterprise computing solutions to business and government, announced today
that Accenture has nominated Sanjay Puri, Optimos President and CEO as Small
Contractor -- Executive of the Year. Puri is a recognized leader for the Northern Virginia business
community, and an authority on information technology, e-government and
technology education.
From mentoring small businesses, to aiding minority contractors, to
pioneering healthcare solutions, Puri is a dedicated industry leader who is
using technology to help his local and national community. Puri's contribution to the IT community goes beyond the
creation of leading-edge technology solutions.

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The program was created in
1998 to elevate the role of women in the scientific community by highlighting
and rewarding their contribution to science progress .

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Appropriately, this year's ceremony
honoring women in the physical/materials sciences coincides with UNESCO's
proclamation of 2005 as the World Year of Physics -- a recognition of the
important role physics plays in the development of science and technology and
its tremendous impact on our society.

Accenture Nominates Optimos CEO Sanjay Puri for Executive of the Year Award

The award, presented by the Northern Virginia GovCon Council, the
Professional Services Council and Washington Technology, is presented to a
greater Washington government contracting executive for making outstanding
contributions to his/her company, the community and the government contracting
industry during the past year. Puri's
leadership, Optimos is also an active participant in the Small Business
Administration 's Mentor Protege program, where Optimos mentors Tyonek
Technologies, a Small Disadvantaged Alaska Native Corporation. He is also the founder and CEO
of the US-India Business Alliance, dedicated to strengthening commercial,
economic and financial ties between the United States and India.

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NEW YORK, Dr.