Nature and Estée Lauder launch women in science awards

Nature Research and The Estée Lauder Companies are launching two new awards for women in science.

The “Inspiring Science” award is for female scientists who have excelled in scientific discovery and have completed their PhD within the last 10 years, whilst the “Innovating Science Award” recognises an individual or an organisation that encourages, from a grassroots level, girls and women to be interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects.

Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of Nature Communications and judging panel member, said: “Given the inspirational advocacy for gender equality across society we’ve recently seen, it’s more important than ever that we do more to recognise and support the achievements of women in science, and that we encourage girls and women to engage with STEM subjects and pursue scientific careers.

“These awards will give a global platform to some of these women who may otherwise go unheralded, as well as celebrate the efforts of the leaders – women and men – behind initiatives supporting greater equality in the sciences.”

The winners will receive up to $10,000 (£7,086) to spend on initiatives linked to the award and free training from Nature Masterclasses. The Inspiring Science Award winner will receive grants of up to $5,200 (£3,865) to go towards open access publication of their research in a Springer Nature journal, and the Innovating Science Award winner will receive up to $5,200 to support events related to their initiative.

Nominations for the awards open today (9th April) and will close on 11th June. A longlist of 10 nominees for each award will be announced on 24th July, and a shortlist of five will be announced on 4th September.

Full details of the awards’ criteria and nomination processes are available at nature.com/researchawards.