The L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO are accepting nominations for the For Women in Science International Awards. Specifically, this cycle covers physical sciences, mathematics and computer science. Each of the 5 winners receives €100,000 to support their research. The nominations deadline is 30 June 2026.
The programme has run since 1998. In that time, 137 women scientists from over 140 countries have received the award, and 7 of them went on to win a Nobel Prize. Over 4,500 young researchers have also received fellowships at doctoral and postdoctoral levels through the national and regional programmes.
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28 years of the For Women in Science programme
The Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO launched the programme in 1998. Each year, it recognises 5 women researchers, one from each of the following regions: Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.
The scientific fields alternate by year: even years go to Life and Environmental Sciences; odd years go to Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science. Because this is an odd-year cycle, the programme accepts nominations from researchers in physics, mathematics and computer science.
An international jury of experts selects the five laureates. As a result, UNESCO announces the winners in December 2026.
Who can be nominated and who can nominate
The programme does not accept self-nominations. An eminent member of the scientific community must submit the nomination: a university rector or research institution director, a member of an academy of sciences, a research chair, a full professor, or a former programme laureate.
There is no age limit. The jury does not count career interruptions due to maternity leave, family care, extended illness or displacement against a candidate. In fact, the jury specifically takes these circumstances into account when assessing research productivity.
Since Ukraine belongs to the Europe region, one of the 5 prizes goes to a European researcher. The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine coordinates nominations from the country.
How nominations are evaluated
The jury evaluates candidates on three dimensions. First, the impact of the candidate’s research on their field: publication quality and volume, citation record, patents and conference presentations. Second, peer recognition through publications in reviewed journals. Third, the candidate’s contribution to education, mentoring and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Career interruptions for childcare or other personal circumstances do not reduce the productivity assessment – the programme’s rules state this explicitly.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards |
| Organisers | Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO |
| Eligible fields | Physical sciences, mathematics, computer science |
| Number of awards | 5 (one per region) |
| Prize amount | €100,000 per laureate |
| Ukraine’s region | Europe |
| Self-nomination | Not accepted |
| Age limit | None |
| Nominations deadline | 30 June 2026 |
| Official page | forwomeninscience.com → |
How to submit a nomination
Nominators submit their applications through the platform at forwomeninscience.com. After registering, they complete the nomination form and upload the required supporting materials.
The programme rules detail the full list of required documents and the registration procedure, available on the same platform. Also, in Ukraine, the National Academy of Sciences coordinates and supports the nomination process.
The nominations deadline is 30 June 2026.
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