Since 1998 the partnership For Women in Science between the French company L’Oréal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlights excellence in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through undertaking initiatives to encourage women’s researchers talent.

According to UNESCO Institute for Statistics, nowadays less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women. With the aim of empowering girls and women to explore scientific paths and to break down the barriers that prevent them from further developing research careers, UNESCO and L’Oréal have committed to ensure gender equality in science, prioritise women’s access to senior and leadership positions, disseminate women’s contributions to science, facilitate networking and promote mentoring for young scientists.

The “For Women in Science Program” highlights scientific excellence and encourages talent through:

• Each year the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards rewards women researchers who contribute with their brilliant work to scientific progress. In order to ensure a geographical representation of the beneficiaries, the prize supports women from Africa and the Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America regions.

• Every year the L’Oréal “National and Regional Fellowships programme” grants 275 talented young women scientists Fellowships so they can pursue promising research projects. These fellowships are divided into 53 national and regional scholarship programs in 117 countries

• The UNESCO-L’Oréal International Rising Talents rewards annually the future of science by supporting and encouraging 15 young women scientists at doctoral or post-doctoral level from each world region to continue their research careers. These young women work in a variety of disciplines such as ecology and sustainable development, physics, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical research, neuroscience and evolutionary biology.

In the online platform of the For Women in Science program you can find out more about their work and submit your applications.