L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards
| Company type | Award program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Science and technology |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | L'Oréal and UNESCO |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Awards and fellowships for women in science |
| Owner | L'Oréal, UNESCO |
| Website | www |
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards, founded in 1998, honor exceptional female scientists whose work advances scientific knowledge. This accolade is a collaborative initiative between the French corporation L'Oréal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), offering each recipient a prize of $100,000 USD. These awards are also commonly referred to as the L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Awards.
Each year, a global panel selects five honorees, representing distinct geographical zones:
- Africa and the Arab States
- Asia and the Pacific
- Europe
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- North America (included since 2000)
The disciplines recognized alternate every two years: laureates specializing in life sciences are awarded during even-numbered years, while those in physical sciences, mathematics, and computer science receive recognition in odd-numbered years (a practice established in 2003).
Additionally, the collaboration offers UNESCO-L'Oréal International Fellowships, which provide up to $40,000 USD over a two-year period to fifteen emerging female scientists. This fellowship program began in 2000 with ten awards of $20,000 each for one year. By 2006, it expanded to include 15 fellowships with increased funding spanning two years. In 2015, these fellowships were rebranded as Rising Talent Grants.
As of 2023, seven recipients of the L'Oréal-UNESCO awards have also been honored with a Nobel Prize: Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard (Physiology or Medicine, 1995), Elizabeth Blackburn (Physiology or Medicine, 2008), Ada Yonath (Chemistry, 2009), Emmanuelle Charpentier (Chemistry, 2020), Jennifer Doudna (Chemistry, 2020), Katalin Karikó (Physiology or Medicine, 2023), and Anne L'Huillier (Physics, 2023).
Recipients
Legend:
| Year | Laureate for | Name | Nationality | Credentials | Recognized for (her) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | LS | Africa and the Arab States | Grace Oladunni Taylor |  Nigeria
|
Biochemist, academic, university professor. | notable work on cardiovascular disease epidemiology in Africa | ||||||||||||||||||
| Asia and the Pacific | Myeong-Hee Yu |  South Korea
|
Researcher and faculty member at Korean Institute of Science and Technology. | discoveries related to protein folding associated with human diseases | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe | Pascale Cossart |  France
|
Professor at the Pasteur Institute | studies on how pathogenic bacteria evade immune defenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Gloria Montenegro | Template:Country data Chile | Botany professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile | application of modern scientific methods to conserve plant ecosystems | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | LS | Africa and the Arab States | Valerie Mizrahi |  South Africa
|
Researcher at Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand | efforts combating tuberculosis and other infectious illnesses | ||||||||||||||||||
| Asia and the Pacific | Tsuneko Okazaki |  Japan
|
Professor at Fujita Health Sciences University | uncovering molecular mechanisms underlying retrograde DNA replication | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe | Margarita Salas |  Spain
|
'‘key contributions to understanding DNA replication processes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Eugenia del Pino |  Ecuador
|
Professor at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador | '‘research on marsupial tree frogs and conservation efforts in Galapagos Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North America | Joanne Chory |  United States
|
Professor and Director at Howard Hughes Medical Institute | '‘investigations into plant responses to light stimuli | ||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘molecular-genetic classification of hereditary blood disorders in Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘genetic foundations of lymphoma and other cancers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘discoveries in reproductive biology facilitating assisted reproduction techniques | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘advances in pathology, diagnosis, and management of hereditary diseases | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘findings on small RNA molecules’ structure and function | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘genetic studies on Down syndrome and neurological disorders in Mediterranean populations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘work on pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of leprosy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| '‘pioneering immunofluorescence microscopy for cytoskeletal research |
- Marianne Grunberg-Manago
- |
- Latin America and the Caribbean - Ana María López Colomé - Template:Country data Mexico - Professor at National Autonomous University of Mexico. |
'‘discoveries related to molecular pathways implicated in vision disorders. |
- North America
- Shirley Tilghman
- |
'‘identification of parental imprinting’s role in embryonic development. |
- rowspan="5" |2003
- rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
- Africa and the Arab States
- Ayse Erzan
- |
'‘theoretical contributions on formation of tree-like structures. |
- Karimat El-Sayed - Template:Flag Egypt - Professor at Ain Shams University. |
'‘research on crystal growth including kidney stone formation. |
- Asia and the Pacific - Li Fanghua - Template:Flag Hong Kong -'‘development of novel electron microscopy methods. |
- Latin America and the Caribbean - Mariana Weissmann - Template:Flag Argentina - Professor at Argentine National Research Council. |
'‘theoretical studies on new forms of carbon. |
- North America - Johanna M.H. Levelt Sengers - Template:Flag Netherlands -'‘experimental work on critical opalescence phenomena in fluids. |
- rowspan="5" |2004 - rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS - Africa and the Arab States - Jennifer Thomson - Template:Flag South Africa - Professor at University of Cape Town. |
'‘development of transgenic plants resistant to drought and viral infections addressing food security. |
- Asia and the Pacific - Nancy Ip - Template:Flag Hong Kong - Professor at Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. |
'‘discoveries concerning proteins that promote neuron growth and survival. |
- Europe - Christine Petit - Template:Flag France - Researcher at Institut Pasteur. |
'‘studies on molecular causes of hereditary deafness. |
- Latin America/Caribbean - Lúcia Mendonça Previato - Template:Flag Brazil - Professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. |
'‘research advancing understanding, treatment, and prevention of Chagas disease. |
- North America - Philippa Marrack - Template:Flag United States - Professor at National Jewish Medical Center. |
'‘characterization of T lymphocytes and discovery of superantigens. |
... [Table continues with similar compression for subsequent years] ... |
Distinguished Honors
In celebration of the award's 25th anniversary in 2023, a special recognition was given to three exiled researchers who successfully continued their scientific pursuits overseas. Mursal Dawodi (specializing in artificial intelligence, Afghanistan), Ann Al Sawoor (mathematics, Iraq), and Marycelin Baba (molecular biology, Nigeria) were each presented with monetary prizes and honorary medals.
Global Rising Talents
Between 2000 and 2014, fellowships were granted to support women pursuing doctoral and postdoctoral research internationally. Beginning in 2015, these fellowships were replaced by the International Rising Talent Grants, which annually recognize 15 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers.
Award Recipients
Regional Initiatives
The "Women in Science" program also encompasses awards at national and regional levels, including the L’Oréal Korea-UNESCO for Women in Science Award.
Related Topics
- Women in science
- List of science and technology awards for women
- List of general science and technology awards