View source for L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards

{{short description|Scientific award}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox award
| image            = L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science.jpg
| caption          = L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme
| name = L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards
}}
[[File:L’Oréal Prize for Women in Science Awards Ceremony.jpg|thumb|The winners of the 2010 UNESCO-L'Oréal Prize for Women in Science Awards Ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris – From left to right; [[Elaine Fuchs]] (United States of America), [[Anne Dejean-Assémat]] (France), Sir [[Lindsay Owen-Jones]], Chairman of L'Oréal, [[Alejandra Bravo]] (Mexico), [[Lourdes J. Cruz]] (Philippines), [[Rashika El Ridi]] (Egypt), Ms [[Irina Bokova]], Director-General of UNESCO, and [[Günter Blobel]], Nobel Prize in Medicine 1999.]]

The '''L'Oréal-UNESCO ''For Women in Science'' International Awards''', created in 1998, aim to improve the position of [[women in science]] by recognizing outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress. The awards are a result of a partnership between the Foundation of the [[France|French]] company [[L'Oréal]] and the [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO) and carry a grant of $100,000 [[USD]] for each laureate. This award is also known as the L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2006/03/for_women_in_science.php?page=all&p=y |title=For Women in Science |work=[[Seed (magazine)|Seed]] |author=Kevin Friedl |date=8 March 2006 |access-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000601/http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2006/03/for_women_in_science.php?page=all&p=y |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=unfit}}</ref><ref name="unesco-2007">{{cite web| publisher = UNESCOPRESS| date = 2 March 2007| title = Five outstanding women scientists receive L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science 2007| url = http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev.php-URL_ID=5212&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html| archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150412060238/http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev.php-URL_ID=5212&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 12 April 2015| access-date = 15 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Women in Science .. Pg 3|url=https://www.alshindagah.com/sept2000/women_3.htm|access-date=2021-09-28|website=www.alshindagah.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=For Women in Science |url=https://www.forwomeninscience.com/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Official website |language=en}}</ref>

Each year an international jury awards five laureates, selecting one from each of the following regions:
* [[Africa]] and the [[Arab world|Arab States]].
* [[Asia-Pacific|Asia and the Pacific]]
* [[Europe]]
* [[Latin America]] and the [[Caribbean]]
* [[North America]] (since 2000)
Eligibility requirements alternate every other year based on scientific discipline with laureates in [[life sciences]] recognized in even years and laureates in [[Outline of physical science|physical sciences]], [[mathematics]] and [[computer science]] recognized in odd years (since 2003).

The same partnership awards the '''UNESCO-L'Oréal International Fellowships''', providing up to $40,000 [[USD]] in funding over two years to fifteen young women scientists engaged in exemplary and promising research projects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=14633&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html/ |title=UNESCO/L'ORÉAL Co-Sponsored Fellowships for Young Women in Life Sciences |publisher=Portal.unesco.org |access-date=13 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010122943/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D14633%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=10 October 2014 }}</ref> The Fellowship awards began in 2000<ref name="Fellowship beginning">{{cite web|title=UNESCO-L'Oréal Fellowships, 2012|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2012-fellowships/|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=16 November 2015|location=Geneva, Switzerland|date=2012}}</ref> with a one-year award of US$20,000 and offered ten awards until 2003. In 2003, the number of awards increased to 15 and then in 2006, the grant period extended to two years and the amount of the award increased to US$40,000.<ref name="changes in Fellowships">{{cite web|title=UNESCO partnership with the Private Sector|url=http://esa.un.org/techcoop/fellowships/SFOMeeting/ParticipantArea/Presentations/Partneship%20with%20Private%20Sector.ppt|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=16 November 2015|location=Geneva, Switzerland|archive-date=30 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330183411/http://esa.un.org/techcoop/fellowships/SFOMeeting/ParticipantArea/Presentations/Partneship%20with%20Private%20Sector.ppt|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, the name ''Rising Talent Grants'' was implemented.<ref name="UNESCO 2015">{{cite web|title=2015 For Women in Science International Rising Talents|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2015-international-rising-talents/|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=16 November 2015|location=Geneva, Switzerland|date=March 2015}}</ref>

As of 2023, 7 L'Oréal-UNESCO laureates have won also a [[Nobel Prize]], these are: [[Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard]] in [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Physiology or Medicine]] (1995 - unlike the others, she had won the Nobel Prize before receiving this International Award), [[Elizabeth Blackburn]] in [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Physiology or Medicine]] (2008), [[Ada Yonath]] in [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Chemistry]] (2009), [[Emmanuelle Charpentier]] in Chemistry (2020), [[Jennifer Doudna]] in Chemistry (2020), [[Katalin Karikó]] in Physiology or Medicine (2023) and [[Anne L'Huillier]] in [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Physics]] (2023).

==Recipients==
[[File:Quarraisha Abdool Karim.jpg|thumb|[[Quarraisha Abdool Karim]] was the 2016 Laureate for Africa and the Arab States]]
'''Legend''':
{{Legend|#C8E6C9|Life sciences (LS), Life and Environmental Sciences (LES)}}
{{Legend|#FFDAB9|Physical sciences, mathematics and computer science (PMC)}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
! colspan="2" |Year
!Laureate for
!Name
!Nationality
!scope = col class = unsortable | Credentials
!scope = col class = unsortable | ''Recognized for (her)''
|-
| rowspan="4" |1998
| rowspan="4" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Grace Oladunni Taylor]]
|{{Flag|Nigeria}}
|Biochemist, scholar, university professor.
|''contributions to epidemiology [[Cardiovascular disease|cardio vascular disease]] in Africa''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Myeong-Hee Yu]] 
|{{Flag|South Korea}}
|Researcher and professor on micro Biological Sciences at [[Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information|Korean Institute of Science and Technology]].
|''discoveries of [[protein folding]] and its relationship to human pathology''
|-
|Europe
|[[Pascale Cossart]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|Professor at Bacteria-Cell interaction Unit, [[Pasteur Institute|Institut Pasteur]]
|''elucidation of the mechanisms whereby pathogenic bacteria subvert immune defenses''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Gloria Montenegro]]
|{{Flag|Chile}}
|Professor of botany at the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Sciences Pontificia [[Pontifical Catholic University of Chile|Universidad Católica de Chile]]
|''efforts to apply modern science to the protection of plant ecosystems''
|-
| rowspan="6" |2000
| rowspan="6" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Valerie Mizrahi]] 
|{{Flag|South Africa}}
|Researching at Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, National Health Sciences Laboratory Service and [[University of the Witwatersrand]]
|''contributions to the fight against [[tuberculosis]] and other infectious diseases''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Tsuneko Okazaki]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Professor of Molecular Biological Sciences at the Institute of Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health Sciences University
|''discovery of the molecular mechanism of retrograde [[DNA replication]]''
|-
|Europe
|[[Margarita Salas]] 
|{{Flag|Spain}}
|
|''fundamental contributions to our understanding of DNA replication''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Eugenia del Pino|Eugenia María del Pino Veintimilla]]
|{{Flag|Ecuador}}
|Professor of developmental Biological Sciences at [[Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador]]
|''original investigations on the Biology of [[marsupial tree frog]]s and her efforts on behalf of conservation in the [[Galápagos Islands|Galapagos Islands.]]''
|-
| rowspan=2 |North America
|[[Joanne Chory]]<ref name=award2000>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DNA+researcher+Okazaki+wins+int'l+award+for+female+scientists.-a058678129 DNA researcher Okazaki wins int'l award for female scientists.], the Free Library, 5 April 2015</ref> 
| rowspan=2 |{{Flag|United States}}
|Professor and Director Plant Molecular and Cellular Biological Sciences Laboratory [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]] Investigator
|''elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the response of plant organisms to light''
|-
|[[Thressa Stadtman|Thressa Campbell Stadtman]]
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2001
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
| Africa and the Arab States
|[[Adeyinka Gladys Falusi]]
|{{flag|Nigeria}}
|Professor of haematology at Institute for Medical Research & Training of the College of Medicine, [[University of Ibadan]]
|''molecular-genetic identification and classification of hereditary blood diseases in Africa''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Suzanne Cory]]
|{{flag|Australia}}
|Professor at [[WEHI|The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research]]
|''contributions to our understanding of the genetic basis of human lymphoma and other cancerous conditions''
|-
|Europe
|[[Anne McLaren]]
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
| 
|''discoveries in reproductive Biology, which have paved the way to human assisted reproduction''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Mayana Zatz]]
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|Professor of genetics [[University of São Paulo]]
|''contributions to the pathology, diagnosis and management of hereditary''
|-
|North America
|[[Joan A. Steitz|Joan Steitz]] 
|{{flag|United States}}
|Professor of molecular Biological Sciences at [[Yale University]]
|''discoveries of the structure, biological functions and pathological implications of small RNA molecules''
|-
| rowspan="6" |2002
| rowspan="6" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Nagwa Meguid]]
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|Researcher at the [[National Research Centre (Egypt)|National Research Centre]], Cairo
|''systematic genetic investigations of Down syndrome and other neurological conditions in the Mediterranean region''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Indira Nath]]
|{{flag|India}}
|Professor at [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi]] - Former Founder Head of Department of Biotechnology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences
|''fundamental contributions to the pathogeny, prevention and treatment of leprosy''
|-
| rowspan=2 |Europe
|[[Mary Osborn]] 
|{{flag|Germany}}
|[[International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology|International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biological Sciences]] (IUBMB). Member of [[University of Göttingen]] Research Committee
|''development of immunofluorescence microscopy as a tool for the study of cytoskeletal structures''
|-
|[[Marianne Grunberg-Manago]]
|{{flag|France}}
|
|''lifetime achievements and exceptional participation in the development of modern molecular Biology''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Ana María López Colomé]]
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|Professor of biochemestry at the Institute of Cellular Physiology, [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]]
|''discoveries of the molecular pathways involved in vision and pathological alterations''
|-
|North America
|[[Shirley Tilghman]]
|{{flag|United States}}
|President, [[Princeton University]]
|''discovery of parental imprinting and its role in embryological development''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2003
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
| rowspan="2" |Africa and the Arab States
|[[Ayse Erzan]]
|{{flag|Turkey}}
|Professor at [[Istanbul Technical University]]
|''theoretical work on the formation of tree-like structures''
|-
|[[Karimat El-Sayed]]
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|Professor of Crystallography at [[Ain Shams University]]
|''work on crystal growth, including the formation of kidney stones''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Li Fanghua]]
|{{flag|Hong Kong}}
|
|''discovery of novel techniques in electron microscopy''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Mariana Weissmann]]
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|Professor at [[National Scientific and Technical Research Council|Argentine National Research Council]]
|''theoretical studies on novel forms of carbon''
|-
|North America
|[[Johanna M.H. Levelt Sengers]]
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|
|''experiments on critical opalescence in fluids''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2004
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Jennifer Thomson]]
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|Professor at Department of Molecular and Cell Biological Sciences. [[University of Cape Town]]
|''work on transgenic plants resistant to drought and to viral infections, in an effort to respond to the continent's chronic food shortage''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Nancy Ip]] 
|{{flag|Hong Kong}}
|Professor at Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Research Institute, [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]]
|''discoveries concerning [[protein]]s which favour the growth and preservation of neurons in brain development''
|-
|Europe
|[[Christine Petit]]
|{{flag|France}}
|Researcher at Genetics of Sensory Defects Laboratory [[Institut Pasteur]]
|''research on the molecular and cellular bases of human hereditary deafness and other sensorial deficiencies''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Lúcia Mendonça Previato]]
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|Professor and Researcher of Biophysics Institute, [[Federal University of Rio de Janeiro]] 
|''studies which enable progress in the understanding, treatment and prevention of the [[Chagas disease]]''
|-
|North America
|[[Philippa Marrack]]
|{{flag|United States}}
|Professor at [[National Jewish Health|National Jewish Medical and Research Center]], Denver, Colorado 
|''the characterization of [[lymphocyte T]] functions in the immune system and the discovery of [[superantigens]]''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2005
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Zohra ben Lakhdar]]
|{{flag|Tunisia}}
|Professor of Physics Laboratory of Atomic-Molecular Spectroscopy and Applications, Faculty of Sciences, [[Tunis El Manar University|University of Tunis El Manar]] 
|''experiments and models in infrared spectroscopy and its applications to pollution detection and medicine''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Fumiko Yonezawa]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
| Professor Emeritus of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, [[Keio University]], Kanagawa-Tokyo
|''pioneering theory and computer simulations on [[Amorphous silicon|amorphous semiconductors]] and [[liquid metal]]s''
|-
|Europe
|[[Dominique Langevin]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|[[French National Centre for Scientific Research|CNRS]] Directeur de Recherches [[Laboratoire de Physique des Solides|Laboratory of Solid State Physics]], [[Paris-Sud University|University of Paris-Sud]], Orsay 
|''fundamental investigations on detergents, emulsions and foams''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Belita Koiller]]
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|Professor of Physics at the Institute of Physics [[Federal University of Rio de Janeiro]]
|''innovative research on electrons in disordered matter such as glass''
|-
|North America
|[[Myriam P. Sarachik]] 
|{{Flag|United States}}
|Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Physics Department of Physics, [[City College of New York]]
|''important experiments on electrical conduction and transitions between metals and insulators''
|-
| rowspan="6" |2006
| rowspan="6" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni]]
|{{flag|Tunisia}}
|Professor of Medical Genetics at [[Tunis University|University of Tunis]]
|''contribution to the analysis and prevention of hereditary disorders''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Jennifer Graves]]
|{{Flag|Australia}}
|Emeritus Professor in molecular science at [[Australian National University]], Canberra Head, Comparative Genomics Research Group Director, ARC Centre for Kangaroo Genomics
|''studies on the evolution of mammalian genomes''
|-
| rowspan=2 |Europe
|[[Christine Van Broeckhoven]]
|{{Flag|Belgium}}
|Research Project Investigator - Laboratory Director - Department director - VIB Department of Molecular Genetics Campus Drie Eiken [[University of Antwerp]] - UA Universiteitsplein 1
|''genetic investigation of [[Alzheimer's disease]] and other neurodegenerative diseases''
|-
|[[Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard]]
|{{Flag|Germany}}
|Since October 2014 Director Emeritus of Research Group "Colour Pattern Formation" at the Max Planck Institute of Developmental Biological Sciences, Tübingen
|''efforts in supporting highly qualified women with children to facilitate their progress in science''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Esther Orozco]]
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|Professor, Patología Experimental Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del [[Instituto Politécnico Nacional]], Mexico City 
|''discovery of the mechanisms and control of infections by amoebas in the tropics''
|-
|North America
|[[Pamela Bjorkman]]
|{{Flag|United States}}
|Max Delbruck Professor of Biological Sciences and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute [[California Institute of Technology]] (CalTech) Pasadena, California
|''discovery of how the immune system recognizes targets''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2007
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Ameenah Gurib-Fakim]]
|{{flag|Mauritius}}
|
|''exploration and analysis of plants from Mauritius and their bio-medical applications''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Margaret Brimble]]<ref name="unesco-2007" />
|{{Flag|New Zealand}}
|Chair of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, [[University of Auckland]], [[Auckland]]
|''contribution to the synthesis of complex natural products, especially shellfish toxins.''
|-
|Europe
|[[Tatiana Birshtein]]<ref name="unesco-2007" />
|{{Flag|Russia}}
|
|''contribution to the understanding of the shapes, sizes and motions of large molecules''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Ligia Gargallo]] 
|{{flag|Peru}}
|Professor, Department of Physical Chemistry [[Pontifical Catholic University of Chile]]
|''contributions to understanding solution properties of polymers''
|-
|North America
|[[Mildred Dresselhaus]]
|{{Flag|United States}}
|
|''research on solid state materials, including conceptualizing the creation of carbon nanotubes''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2008
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
| rowspan="2" |Africa and the Arab States
|[[Ada Yonath]] 
|{{Flag|Israel}}
|Professor at the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], [[Weizmann Institute of Science]]
|'' structural studies of the [[protein biosynthesis]] system and its disruption by [[antibiotic]]s''
|-
|[[Lihadh Al-Gazali]] 
|{{flag|Iraq}}
|Professor in Clinical Genetics and Paediatrics
|'' contributions to the characterization of [[Genetic disorder|inherited disorders]]''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[V. Narry Kim]]
|{{Flag|South Korea}}
|Professor of biochemestry, cell Biological Sciences and Molecular Biological Sciences at [[Seoul National University]]
|''elucidating the formation of a new class of [[RNA]] molecules involved in [[Regulation of gene expression|gene regulation]]''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Ana Belén Elgoyhen]]
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|Professor of Pharmacology at the [[University of Buenos Aires]] and independent researcher of the [[National Scientific and Technical Research Council]]
|'' contributions to the understanding of the molecular basis of [[hearing (sense)]]''
|-
|North America
|[[Elizabeth Blackburn]]<ref name=unesco-2008>{{cite web |title=Tenth anniversary of the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards For Women in Science |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41944&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409105526/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D41944%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=9 April 2008 |access-date=30 May 2008 |publisher=Unesco}}</ref>
|{{Flag|Australia}}
|Researcher at molecular Biological Sciences at the [[University of California]], member of the Institute of Medicine
|''the discovery of the nature and maintenance of [[chromosome]] ends and their roles in [[cancer]] and aging''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2009
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Tebello Nyokong]]
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|Professor of Medical Chemistry and technology at [[Rhodes University]], and a recipient of the Presidency of South Africa's [[Order of Mapungubwe]] in Bronze
|'' work on harnessing light for [[cancer therapy]] and for environmental clean-up''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Akiko Kobayashi (chemist)|Akiko Kobayashi]] 
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Professor of chemistry emeritus at the [[University of Tokyo]] and [[Nihon University]] 
|'' contribution to the development of molecular [[Electrical conductor|conductors]] and the design and synthesis of a single-component molecular metal''
|-
|Europe
|[[Athene M. Donald]]
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Professor of Experimental Physics at the [[University of Cambridge]] and Master of [[Churchill College, Cambridge]] 
|'' work in unraveling the mysteries of the physics of messy materials, ranging from cement to starch''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Beatriz Barbuy]]
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|Professor of astrophysics at the Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG) at the [[University of São Paulo]], vice-president of the [[International Astronomical Union]]
|'' work on the life of [[star]]s from the birth of the [[Universe]] to the present time''
|-
|North America
|[[Eugenia Kumacheva]]<ref name=unesco-2009>{{cite news |date=10 November 2008 |title=2009 Edition Of The L'Oréal-Unesco For Women In Science Awards |publisher=L'Oréal Paris |url=http://www.loreal.es/notas-de-prensa/2009-edition-of-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-awards.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=16 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116233002/http://www.loreal.es/notas-de-prensa/2009-edition-of-the-loreal-unesco-for-women-in-science-awards.aspx |archive-date=16 November 2015}}</ref> 
|{{Flag|Canada}}
|Professor of Chemistry at the [[University of Toronto]] and a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Functional Materials
|''the design and development of new materials with many applications including targeted drug delivery for [[cancer treatment]]s and materials for high density [[optical data storage]]''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2010
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Rashika El Ridi]]<ref name=unesco2010>[http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/loreal_unesco_awards_and_fellowships_for_women_in_science_2010_to_be_presented_at_unesco/#.Vkdsy3bhDnA L'OREAL-UNESCO Awards and Fellowships for Women in Science 2010 to be presented at UNESCO], UNESCO.org, Retrieved 14 November 2015</ref> 
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|Professor of Immunology, Department of Zoology Faculty of Science, [[Cairo University]]
|''paving the way towards the development of a [[vaccine]] against the tropical disease [[schistosomiasis]]''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Lourdes J. Cruz]]
|{{Flag|Philippines}}
|Professor of Immunology, at the [[University of the Philippines|University of Philippines]] Marine Science Institute, Founder of the rural Livehood Incubator in [[Bataan]]
|''the discovery of marine snail toxins that can serve as powerful tools to study brain function''
|-
|Europe
|[[Anne Dejean-Assémat]]<ref name=unesco2010 />
|{{Flag|France}}
|Research Director at [[Inserm|INSERM]] and Professor at the [[Pasteur Institute]], head of the Laboratory of Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis at the Pasteur Institute and the INSERM Unit 993 Molecular and Cellular Biological Sciences of Tumors
|''contributions to our understanding of [[leukaemia]] and [[liver cancer]]s''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Alejandra Bravo]]
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|Researcher at the Institute of Molecular MicroBiological Sciences of the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]] (UNAM)
|''work on a bacterial toxin that acts as a powerful [[insecticide]]''
|-
|North America
|[[Elaine Fuchs]]<ref name=unesco-2010>{{cite news |date=15 October 2009 |title=12th Annual L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards For Women in Science Honours Five Exceptional Women Scientists |publisher=UNESCO News Service |location=Paris, France |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46707&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |url-status=dead |access-date=3 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111092233/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D46707%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=11 November 2009}}</ref>
|{{Flag|United States}}
|Investigator at the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]] and the Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor of Mammalian Cell Biological Sciences and Development at The [[Rockefeller University]]
|''contributions to our knowledge of [[skin]] biology and skin [[stem cell]]s''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2011
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Faiza Al-Kharafi|Faiza Al-Harafi]]
|{{flag|Kuwait}}
|Professor of chemistry at Kuwait University, member of the Board of Director of [[Kuwait University]]
|'' work on [[corrosion]], a problem of fundamental importance to water treatment and the oil industry;  notable contributions to [[electrochemistry]] with particular emphasis on corrosion and [[catalysis]]''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Vivian Wing-Wah Yam]]
|{{Flag|Hong Kong}}
|Professor in chemistry and Energy at the [[University of Hong Kong]]
|'' work on [[light-emitting materials]] and innovative ways of capturing [[solar energy]];  pioneering contributions in the molecular design of [[photo-active materials]] that are particularly relevant to solar energy conversion''
|-
|Europe
|[[Anne L'Huillier]] 
|{{Flag|France}}
|Professor of atomic physic at [[Lund University]] in Sweden
|'' work on the development of the fastest camera for recording the movement of electrons in attoseconds (a billionth of a billionth of a second);  pioneering experimental and theoretical contributions to harmonic light generation as a base technology for [[attosecond science]]''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Silvia Torres-Peimbert]]
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|President of the [[International Astronomical Union]] and member of the [[American Astronomical Society]] and the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World, Mexico
| '' work on the chemical composition of [[nebulae]] which is fundamental to our understanding of the [[origin of the universe]];  fundamental contribution to the studies of [[nebulae]] that have led to a better understanding of the chemical [[evolution of galaxies]] and the universe''
|-
|North America
|[[Jillian Banfield]]<ref>{{cite web |title=13th Annual L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards – 2011 |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/wsa2011/ |access-date=1 May 2013 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>
|{{Flag|Australia}}
|Professor at the [[University of California]], Berkeley with appointments in the Earth Science, Ecosystem Science and Materials Science and Engineering departments
|'' work on bacterial and material behavior under extreme conditions relevant to the environment and the Earth; for pioneering achievements in [[environmental science]] integrating chemical, biological, mineralogical, and [[proteogenomic]] influences''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2012
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Jill Farrant]]
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|Professor of Molecular and Cell Biological Sciences at the [[University of Cape Town]]
|''the elucidation of mechanisms by which plants overcome [[drought conditions]]''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Ingrid Scheffer]]
|{{Flag|Australia}}
|Paediatric neurologist and senior research fellow at the [[Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health|Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Sciences]] 
|''identifying genes involved in some forms of [[epilepsy]]''
|-
|Europe
|[[Frances Ashcroft]]
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Royal Society GlaxoSmithKline Research Professor at the University Laboratory of Physiology at the [[University of Oxford]]
|'' discovery of an [[ATP-sensitive potassium channel]] linking [[glucose metabolism]] and [[insulin]] secretion and its role in [[neonatal diabetes]]''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Susana López Charretón]]
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|Professor of virology at the Institute of Biotechnology at the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]] 
| ''elucidating the mechanisms of rotavirus infections''
|-
|North America
|[[Bonnie Bassler]]<ref>{{cite web |title=14th Annual L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science – 2012 |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2012-awards/ |access-date=1 May 2013 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>
|{{Flag|United States}}
|Professor in Molecular Biological Sciences and chair of the Department of Molecular Biological Sciences at [[Princeton University]]
|''discovering the chemical signals and mechanisms bacteria use to communicate and coordinate group behaviors''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2013
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Francisca Nneka Okeke]]<ref>{{cite web |date=21 February 2013 |title=Francisca N. Okeke, 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards Laureate for Africa and the Arab States |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDTTfoFnHrY |access-date=13 May 2013 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
|{{flag|Nigeria}}
|Professor of Physics at the [[University of Nigeria]]
|'' significant contributions to the understanding of daily variations of the ion currents in the [[upper atmosphere]] which may further our understanding of climate change''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Reiko Kuroda]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Reiko Kuroda, 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards Laureate for Asia |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFGfPyk5JKc |access-date=13 May 2013 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Foreign member of the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] in its class for chemistry, Professor at the Department of Life Sciences at the [[University of Tokyo]]
|''discovering the functional importance of the difference between left handed and [[right handed molecules]] which has wide applications including research on neurodegenerative diseases such as [[Alzheimer's]]''
|-
|Europe
|[[Pratibha Gai]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Pratibha L. Gai, 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards Laureate for Europe |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pAKye9AzWI |access-date=13 May 2013 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Microscopist and Professor and Chair of Electron Microscopy and former Director at The York JEOL Nanocentre, Departments of Chemistry and Physics, [[University of York]] 
|''ingeniously modifying her [[electron microscope]] so that she was able to observe chemical reactions occurring at surface atoms of catalysts which will help scientists in their development of new medicines or new energy sources''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Marcia Barbosa]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Marcia Barbosa, 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards Laureates for Latin America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvH8k3Ftrsw |access-date=13 May 2013 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|Freelance Biogeography consulting and training at Portugal
|''discovering one of the peculiarities of water which may lead to better understanding of how earthquakes occur and how [[proteins fold]] which is important for the treatment of diseases''
|-
|North America
|[[Deborah S. Jin]]<ref>{{cite web |title=15th Annual L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science – 2013 |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2013-awards/ |access-date=1 May 2013 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Deborah S. Jin, 2013 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards Laureate for North America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhyNlzsNGVk |access-date=13 May 2013 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
|{{Flag|United States}}
|
|''having been the first to cool down molecules so much that she can observe [[chemical reactions]] in slow motion which may help further understanding of molecular processes which are important for medicine or new energy sources''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2014
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Segenet Kelemu]]
|{{flag|Ethiopia}}
|Director General of the [[International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology]], Director of Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA); Vice President of Programs at the [[Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa]] (AGRA), and Leader of Crop
|''research on how microorganisms living in symbiosis with forage grasses can improve their capacity to resist disease and adapt to environmental and climate change''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Kayo Inaba]]
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Director, [[Kyoto University]] Gender Equality Promotion Center / Executive Vice-President for Gender Equality, International Affairs, and Public Relations, Kyoto University/ Guest Investigator
|''critical discoveries concerning the mechanisms triggered by the immune system when it is faced with a threat such as a virus or bacteria or by abnormal cells such as cancer cells''
|-
|Europe
|[[Brigitte Kieffer]]<ref name=laureate2014>{{cite web |title=16th Annual L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science – 2014 |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2014-awards/ |access-date=18 November 2015 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>
|{{Flag|France}}
|Professor at [[University of Strasbourg|Strasbourg University]], Director of [[Inserm|INSERM]] at Strasbourg and [[Douglas Mental Health University Institute|Institut Douglas]] at Montreal
|''decisive work on the brain mechanisms involved in pain, mental illness and drug addiction''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Cecilia Bouzat]]<ref name=laureate2014 />
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|Principal Investigator of the [[National Scientific and Technical Research Council|CONICET]] and Deputy Director of the Institute of Biochemical Research of White Bay (INIBIBB)
|''contribution to our understanding of how brain cells communicate among themselves and with muscles''
|-
|North America
|[[Laurie Glimcher]]<ref name=laureate2014 />
|{{Flag|United States}}
|President and CEO of [[Dana–Farber Cancer Institute|Dana-Farber Cancer Institute]], Member of the [[American Philosophical Society]]
|''discovering key factors involved in controlling immune response ([[TBX21|T-bet]]) in allergies and in autoimmune, infectious and malignant diseases''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2015
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli]]
|{{flag|Morocco}}
|Professor of nuclear physics at [[Mohammed V University|Mohammed V's Rabat University]] 
| ''key contribution to one of the greatest discoveries in physics: proof of the existence of the Higgs Boson, the particle responsible for the creation of mass in the universe''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Xie Yi]]
|{{Flag|China}}
|Chemist, member of the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] and a fellow of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]], professor and doctoral supervisor at [[University of Science and Technology of China]]
|''significant contributions to inorganic solid state solvothermal chemistry at the nanoscale, particularly unconventional semi-conductor materials and graphene-like structures a few atoms thick''
|-
| rowspan=2 |Europe
|[[Carol Robinson]]
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Chemist and President of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]], Royal Society Researcher Professor at the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory at the [[University of Oxford]]
|'' groundbreaking work in macromolecular mass spectrometry and pioneering gas phase structural biology by probing the structure and reactivity of single proteins and protein complexes, including membrane proteins''
|-
|[[Molly Shoichet|Molly S. Shoichet]]<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2015-awards/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320212520/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/for-women-in-science-programme/2015-awards/ |archive-date=20 March 2015 |access-date=20 March 2015 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>
|{{Flag|Canada}}
|Professor, Chemistry and biomedical engineering at [[University of Toronto|Toronto University]] Head of the research program Shoichetlab specialized to the regenerative medecine
|'' pioneering work on advanced laser photochemistry for creating 3D patterns in hydrogels that enable regeneration of nerve tissue''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Thaisa Storchi Bergmann]]
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|President of Cross-Division D-J Commission Supermassive Black Holes, Feedback and Galaxy Evolution at [[Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul|UFGRS]] / Head of Research Group Department of Astronomy - IF-UFRGS 
|'' outstanding work on super-massive black holes in the centers of galaxies and their associated regions of dense gas, dust, and young stars surrounding them, as well as their role in the evolution of galaxies''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2016
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Quarraisha Abdool Karim]]<ref>[http://southernafrican.news/2016/04/05/sa-scientist-wins-loreal-unesco-award/ SA scientist wins L’Oréal, Unesco Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414231808/http://southernafrican.news/2016/04/05/sa-scientist-wins-loreal-unesco-award/|date=14 April 2016}}, 5 April, Southern Times, Retrieved 7 April 2016</ref>
|{{Flag|South Africa}}
|Associate Scientific Director of the AIDS research center, CAPRISA, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology at the [[Columbia University]], honorary professor in Public Health Sciences at the [[University of KwaZulu-Natal]]
|''remarkable contribution to the prevention and treatment of HIV and associated infections, greatly improving the quality of life of women in Afric''a
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Chen Hualan]]
|{{Flag|China}}
|Member of the [[World Organisation for Animal Health|World Organisation for Animal Health Sciences]] (OIE), member of the [[Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database]] (FAOSTAT), Researcher and PhD Supervisor at [[Harbin Veterinary Research Institute]] of [[Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences|Chinese Academy]]
|''outstanding research into the biology of the bird flu virus, leading to the development and use of an effective vaccine''
|-
|Europe
|[[Emmanuelle Charpentier]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|Professor and researcher in microbiological Sciences, Genetics and Biochemistry, Director of the [[Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology|Max Planck Institute for Infection Biological Sciences]], Berlin
|''game-changing discovery, alongside Professor Jennifer Doudna, of a versatile DNA editing technique to “rewrite” flawed genes in people and other living organisms, opening tremendous new possibilities for treating, even curing, diseases''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Andrea Gamarnik]]<ref>[http://fondationloreal.com/posts/palmares-2016-du-prix-l-oreal-unesco-pour-les-femmes-et-la-science/en Discover the 2016 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science laureates] on foundation loreal.com</ref>
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|Professor, Molecular Virology Laboratory, Fundación [[Leloir Institute|Instituto Leloir]], [[National Scientific and Technical Research Council|CONICET]], Buenos Aires
|''seminal discoveries on how mosquito-borne viruses reproduce and cause human diseases, particularly Dengue Fever.''
|-
|North America
|[[Jennifer Doudna]]
|{{Flag|United States}}
|Li Ka Shing Chancellor Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular and Cell Biological Sciences, [[University of California, Berkeley]]
|''game-changing discovery, alongside Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier, of a versatile DNA editing technique to “rewrite” flawed genes in people and other living organisms, opening tremendous new possibilities for treating, even curing, diseases''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2017
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Niveen Khashab]]
|{{flag|Lebanon}}
|Associate Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, [[King Abdullah University of Science and Technology]] (KAUST)
|'' contributions to innovative smart hybrid materials aimed at drug delivery and for developing new techniques to monitor intracellular antioxidant activity''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Michelle Simmons]]
|{{Flag|Australia}}{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Professor and Director of the Center of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, [[University of New South Wales]] 
|''pioneering contributions to quantum and atomic electronics, constructing atomic transistors en route to quantum computers''
|-
|Europe
|[[Nicola Spaldin]]
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Professor and Chair of Materials Theory, [[ETH Zurich|ETH Zürich]]
| ''groundbreaking multidisciplinary work predicting, describing and creating new materials that have switchable magnetic and ferroelectric properties''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[María Teresa Ruiz]]<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/announcement_of_laureates_of_2017_loreal_unesco_for_wome/ Announcement of Laureates of 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards]</ref>
|{{flag|Chile}}
|Professor, Department of Astronomy, [[University of Chile|Universidad of Chile]]
|''discovery of the first brown dwarf and her seminal work on understanding the faintest stars, including stars at the final stages of their evolution (white dwarfs)''
|-
|North America
|[[Zhenan Bao]] 
|{{Flag|China}}
|Professor of Chemical Engineering and Material Science and Engineering, [[Stanford University]]
| ''outstanding contribution to and mastery of the development of novel functional polymers for consumer electronics, energy storage and biomedical applications''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2018
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Heather Zar]]<ref name="unesco2018">{{cite web | title=Five Laureates Named for 2018 L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards | website=unesco.org | url=https://www.unesco.org/en | language=en | access-date=2025-03-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116132852/https://en.unesco.org/news/five-laureates-named-2018-oreal-unesco-women-science-awards | archive-date=16 November 2017}}</ref>
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|Professor and Chair, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health Sciences, [[Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital|Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital]], Director SAMRC Unit, [[University of Cape Town]]
|''establishing a cutting-edge research programme in pneumonia, tuberculosis and asthma, saving the lives of many children worldwide''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Meemann Chang]]<ref name="unesco2018"/>
|{{Flag|China}}
|Professor, [[Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology|Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology]] Member of [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]]
|'' pioneering work on fossil records leading to insights on how aquatic vertebrates adapted to life on land''
|-
|Europe
|[[Caroline Dean]]<ref name="unesco2018"/>
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Professor, John Innes Centre, [[Norwich Research Park]]
|'' groundbreaking research on how plants adapt to their surroundings and climate change, leading to new ways for crop improvement''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Amy T. Austin]]<ref name="unesco2018"/>
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|Professor, IFEVA-[[National Scientific and Technical Research Council|CONICET]], Faculty of Agronomy, [[University of Buenos Aires]] 
|'' remarkable contributions to understanding terrestrial ecosystem ecology in natural and human-modified landscapes''
|-
|North America
|[[Janet Rossant]]<ref name="unesco2018"/>
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Senior Scientist, [[Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)|The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto]], Canada Professor, [[University of Toronto]], Canada, President, [[Gairdner Foundation]], Director, Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine 
|'' outstanding research that helped us to better understand how tissues and organs are formed in the developing embryo''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2019
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Najat A. Saliba]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |date=8 March 2019 |title=Najat Aoun Saliba: Push Forward Changes in Health Care Policies and Practices |url=https://en.unesco.org/news/najat-aoun-saliba-push-forward-changes-health-care-policies-and-practices |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=UNESCO |language=en | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527200633/https://en.unesco.org/news/najat-aoun-saliba-push-forward-changes-health-care-policies-and-practices | archive-date=27 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="unesco2019">{{Cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/21st-edition-loreal-unesco-international-awards-women-science|title=21st edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO international awards for women in science|website=Unesco|access-date=2019-02-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211223717/https://en.unesco.org/news/21st-edition-loreal-unesco-international-awards-women-science | archive-date=11 February 2019}}</ref>
|{{flag|Lebanon}}
|Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Nature Conservation Center at the [[American University of Beirut]]
|'' pioneering work in identifying carcinogenic agents and other toxic air pollutants in the Middle East''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Maki Kawai]]<ref name="unesco2019"/>
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|Director General, Institute for Molecular Science, [[University of Tokyo]], Japan, member of the [[Science Council of Japan]], President of the [[Chemical Society of Japan]]
| '' ground-breaking work in manipulating molecules at the atomic level, in order to transform materials and create innovative material''
|-
|Europe
|[[Claire Voisin]]<ref name="unesco2019"/>
|{{Flag|France}}
|Director at [[French National Centre for Scientific Research|CNRS]], Institute of Mathematics of Jussieu - Professor, Chair of Algebraic Geometry at the [[Collège de France]]
|''outstanding work in [[algebraic geometry]]''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Karen Hallberg]]<ref name="unesco2019"/>
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|Professor of Physics at the [[Balseiro Institute]] and Research Director at the [[Bariloche Atomic Centre]], [[National Atomic Energy Commission|CNEA]]/[[National Scientific and Technical Research Council|CONICET]]
|''developing cutting-edge computational approaches that allow scientists to understand the physics of quantum matter''
|-
|North America
|[[Ingrid Daubechies]]<ref name="unesco2019"/>
|{{Flag|Belgium}}
|Professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering, [[Duke University]]
|''exceptional contribution to the numerical treatment of images and signal processing, providing standard and flexible algorithms for data compression''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2020
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Abla Mehio Sibai]]<ref name=:0>{{cite web | title=22nd L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards recognizes five exceptional women researchers in the life sciences | website=unesco.org | url=https://en.unesco.org/news/22nd-loreal-unesco-women-science-awards-recognizes-five-exceptional-women-researchers-life | language=en| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212142756/https://en.unesco.org/news/22nd-loreal-unesco-women-science-awards-recognizes-five-exceptional-women-researchers-life | archive-date=12 February 2020 | access-date=2025-03-25}}</ref><ref name=finance>{{Cite web |title=L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards 2022 |url=https://www.loreal-finance.com/eng/news-event/loreal-unesco-women-science-international-awards-2022 |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=L'Oréal Finance |language=en}}</ref>
|{{flag|Lebanon}}
|Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, [[American University of Beirut]]
|''pioneering research and advocacy to improve healthy ageing in low- and middle-income countries and their impact on health and social policy programmes''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Firdausi Qadri]]<ref name=:0 /><ref name=finance />
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|Senior Director, Infectious Diseases Division, International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, [[Dhaka]]
|''outstanding work to understand and prevent infectious diseases affecting children in developing countries, and promote early diagnosis and vaccination with global health impact''
|-
|Europe
|[[Edith Heard]]<ref name=:0 /><ref name=finance />
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Director General of the European Molecular Biological Sciences Laboratory, Professor and Chair of Epigenetics and Cellular Memory at the [[Collège de France]]
|''fundamental discoveries concerning the mechanisms governing epigenetic processes, which allow mammals to regulate proper gene expression and are essential for life''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Esperanza Martínez-Romero]]<ref name=:0 /><ref name=finance />
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|Professor of Environmental Science, Genomic Science at the Center of the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]]
|''pioneering work on the use of environmentally friendly bacteria to support plant growth for increased agricultural productivity and reduced use of chemical fertilizers''
|-
|North America
|[[Kristi Anseth]]<ref name=:0 /><ref name=finance />
|{{flag|United States}}
|Distinguished Professor, Tisone Professor, Associate Professor of Surgery, [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado, Boulder]]
|''outstanding contribution in converging engineering and biology to develop innovative biomaterials that help tissue regeneration and drug delivery''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2021
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Catherine Ngila]]<ref name=finance /><ref name=:1>{{cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards honour five women researchers in mathematics, astrophysics, chemistry and informatics |url=https://en.unesco.org/news/loreal-unesco-women-science-awards-honour-five-women-researchers-mathematics-astrophysics |accessdate=20 July 2021 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|Acting Executive Director of the [[African Academy of Sciences]], Former Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs (DVC-AA) at [[Riara University]], Kenya, and Visiting Professor of Applied Chemistry at the [[University of Johannesburg]], South Africa:
| ''introducing, developing and applying nanotechnology-based analytical methods to monitor water pollutants. Her innovative work is of vital importance for the development of water resource management in an environmentally sustainable way''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Kyoko Nozaki]]<ref name=finance /><ref name=:1 />
|{{flag|Japan}}
|Professor of Chemistry at the [[University of Tokyo]], Japan
|''pioneering, creative contributions within the field of synthetic chemistry, and their importance to industrial innovation. Her research has led to new, highly effective and environmentally friendly production processes to manufacture molecules useful for medicine and sustainable agriculture''
|-
|Europe
|[[Alicia Dickenstein]]<ref name=finance /><ref name=:1 />
|{{Flag|Argentina}}
|Professor and Galaxies and Cosmology Chair at the [[Collège de France]] in Paris, and Astrophysicist at the [[Paris Observatory]] - PSL, France: 
|''outstanding contributions at the forefront of mathematical innovation by leveraging algebraic geometry in the field of molecular biology. Her research enables scientists to understand the structures and behaviour of cells and molecules, even on a microscopic scale. Operating at the frontier between pure and applied mathematics, she has forged important links to physics and chemistry, and enabled biologists to gain an in-depth structural understanding of biochemical reactions and enzymatic networks''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Shafi Goldwasser]]<ref name=finance /><ref name=:1 />
|{{flag|Israel}} {{Flag|United States}}
|Professor of Mathematics at the [[University of Buenos Aires]], Argentina
|''pioneering and fundamental work in computer science and cryptography, essential for secure communication over the internet as well as for shared computation on private data. Her research has a significant impact on our understanding of large classes of problems for which computers cannot efficiently find even approximate solutions''
|-
|North America
|[[Françoise Combes]]<ref name=finance /><ref name=:1 />
|{{flag|United States}}
|Director of the [[Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing]], Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California Berkeley]], RSA Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], United States of America and Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at [[Weizmann Institute of Science|Weizmann Institute]], Israel :
|''outstanding contribution to astrophysics which ranges from the discovery of molecules in interstellar space to supercomputer simulations of galaxy formation. Her work has been crucial to our understanding of the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies, including the role played by supermassive black holes in galactic centers''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2022
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LS
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Agnes Binagwaho|Agnès Binagwaho]]<ref name=finance />
|{{flag|Rwanda}}
|Professor of Pediatrics and Vice-Chancellor of Global Health Equity University, Kigali, Rwanda
|''central role in expanding access to public healthcare for the most vulnerable communities in Rwanda, Africa and beyond, helping reduce the global burden of disease and improving lives.''
''In particular, she focuses on best practices in building resilient health systems and improving the quality, availability, and affordability of healthcare services for people suffering with diseases including HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. This has never been more important than now as overwhelmed healthcare systems across the world struggle to build back stronger in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Hailan Hu]]<ref name=finance />
|{{flag|China}}
|Professor and Executive Director of the Neuroscience Center of [[Zhejiang University School of Medicine]], China
|''major discoveries in social and emotional neuroscience. Her ground-breaking work has revolutionized scientific understanding of mental health and, deciphered the mechanism of depression to inform innovative treatment strategies and new medicines. These breakthroughs are vital in the wake of the mental health crisis sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, with nearly 30% of the global population suffering from depression according to Lancet.''
''She is passionate about raising awareness and illuminating pathways to high impact solutions, particularly given that in many parts of the world, the illness remains largely under diagnosed and still taboo.'' 
|-
|Europe
|[[María Ángela Nieto]]<ref name=finance />
|{{flag|Spain}}
|Professor at the Institute of Neuroscience (CSIC-UMH)
|''fundamental discoveries in embryonic development, which have paved the way for understanding how cancer extends to other organs and forms metastases, the secondary tumours that cause more than 90% of cancer-related deaths.''
''In particular, she explores how cells change identity in the embryo to disseminate and form different tissues. This in turn stands to illuminate how cancer spreads and inform better therapeutic strategies.'' 
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Maria Guadalupe Guzmán]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=For Women in Science 2022 : Maria Guadalupe Guzmán |url=https://www.loreal.com/en/news/commitments/article-page-maria-guadalupe-guzman-fwis/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=L'Oréal |language=en}}</ref>
|{{flag|Cuba}}
| Infectious disease and virology, Director of the Research Center of the Pedro Kouri Institute (IPK), Institute of Tropical Medicine
|''pioneering work to address the devastating human infections caused by the dengue virus, one of the world's most serious diseases in terms of morbidity and mortality, causing 390 million dengue virus infections annually¹.''
''Her research has led to a better understanding of its pathogenesis and risk factors, the origin of several epidemics of dengue haemorrhagic fever, the development of diagnosis and monitoring, and the search for potential new vaccines. It will also strengthen training for medical students and personnel, helping to ensure the next generations are better equipped to fight these viruses.'' 
|-
|North America
|[[Katalin Karikó]]<ref name=finance />
|{{Flag|Hungary}}{{flag|United States}}
| Adjunct Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine, [[University of Pennsylvania]], United States of America, and Senior Vice President at BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, United States of America
|''ground-breaking development of a non-inflammatory mRNA, as a potent vaccine to prevent viral and parasitic infections. Her research has contributed to the development of the [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s by [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|Pfizer-BioNTech]] and [[Moderna]].'' 
''She has been conducting years of research which led to a solution for one of the basic problems of RNA, namely the low and short-lived protein production. Professor Karikó discovered that nucleoside-modified mRNA – compared to unmodified and non-optimized mRNA – had a better tolerability and could be administered at higher doses.  ''

''Her research has paved the way for future therapies in complex diseases such as cancer, heart failure, stroke, anaemia, and autoimmune diseases.''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2023
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Suzana Nunes]]''<ref name=:2>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Press release: Discover the laureates of the 25th L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/discover-laureates-25th-loreal-unesco-women-science-international-awards?hub=917 |access-date=14 June 2023 |website=Unesco}}</ref>''
|{{Flag|Brazil}}
|Professor of Chemical and Environmental Science and Engineering, Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, [[King Abdullah University of Science and Technology]] (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
|''outstanding work in developing innovative membrane filters to achieve highly efficient chemical separations with a lower carbon footprint. Her research has proven to be particularly beneficial to the water, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries in achieving a more sustainable environment''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Lidia Morawska]]''<ref name=:2 />''
|{{Flag|Australia}}{{Flag|Poland}}
|Distinguished Professor, School of Earth Sciences and Climate, [[Queensland University of Technology]], Australia and Director of the International Laboratory for air quality and health
|''excellent research in the field of air pollution and its impact on human health and the environment, with a specific focus on atmospheric particulate matter. Her extraordinary dedication and impact have built a bridge from fundamental science to real-world policy and practice to provide clean air for all''
|-
|Europe
|[[Frances Kirwan]]''<ref name=:2 />''
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|Savilian Professor of Geometry, [[University of Oxford]]
|''exceptional work in pure mathematics combining geometry and algebra in order to develop techniques to understand the classification of geometric objects. These techniques have been used by theoretical physicists searching for mathematical descriptions of our universe. Her recent work has the potential to help scientists to extract crucial information from large complex data sets''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Anamaría Font]]''<ref name=:2 />''
|{{Flag|Venezuela}}
|Professor of Physics, [[Central University of Venezuela]]
|''important contributions in theoretical particle physics, in particular to the study of [[String theory|String Theory]]. Her research has furthered the theory's implications for the structure of matter and [[quantum gravity]], which is also relevant to the description of black holes and the first instants after the [[Big Bang|big bang]]''
|-
|North America
|[[Aviv Regev]]''<ref name=:2 />''
|{{Flag|Israel}}
|Executive Vice President and Global Head of Genentech Research and Early Development, [[Genentech]]/Roche, San Francisco
|''pioneering work applying mathematics and computer science to revolutionize cell biology. Her research enables scientists to discover and characterize the trillions of cells within the body and enhances scientists’ ability to decipher and target the mechanisms that cause disease, in order to develop better diagnostics and therapies''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2024
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #C8E6C9;" |LES
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Rose Leke]]''<ref name="UNESCO PR 2024">{{cite web |date=4 May 2024 |title=Five exceptional researchers win L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards 2024 |url= https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/five-exceptional-researchers-win-loreal-unesco-women-science-international-awards-2024|access-date=23 May 2024 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>''
|{{Flag|Cameroon}}
|Former Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Former Director of the Biotechnology Centre, [[University of Yaoundé I]], Cameroon
|''dedicated leadership, outstanding research and pioneering efforts to improve outcomes in pregnancy-associated malaria, support the eradication of polio and improve immunization in Africa, as well as for her efforts to improve the career path of young scientists. Dr Leke’s national, regional, and global influence has had a profound impact on public health in her native Cameroon and across Africa. Her achievements position her as a role model, leading educator and advocate for young female scientists.''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Yan Ning|Nieng Yan]]<ref name="UNESCO PR 2024" />
|{{Flag|China}}
|University Professor, School of Life Sciences, [[Tsinghua University]]; Founding President of Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation; Director of Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, China
|''for discovering the atomic structure of multiple membrane proteins that mediate the traffic of ions and sugars across the cell membrane, revealing principles that govern cross-membrane transport. Her exceptional research has informed multiple disorders such as epilepsy and arrhythmia and guided the treatment of pain syndrome. As a leading authority in her field, Dr Yan inspires female scientists globally and is a strong advocate for gender equality in research and science education.''
|-
|Europe
|[[Geneviève Almouzni]]''<ref name="UNESCO PR 2024" />''
|{{Flag|France}}
|Director of Research from The [[French National Centre for Scientific Research|National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)]] at the [[Curie Institute (Paris)|Curie Institute]], France
|''seminal contributions to understanding how DNA is packaged with proteins inside the cell nucleus. Her pioneering work in epigenetics has furthered our understanding of how cell identity is determined during normal development and disrupted by cancer. Her extraordinary successes in advancing research, training the next generation of scientists and promoting women in science are inspirational''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[Alicia Kowaltowski]]''<ref name="UNESCO PR 2024" />''
|{{Flag|Brazil}}
|Professor of Biochemistry, [[University of São Paulo]], Brazil
|''fundamental contribution to the biology of mitochondria, which are "the cell’s main energy source, acting as their batteries". Her work has been critical for our understanding of the implication of energy metabolism in chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, as well as in ageing. Her outstanding contribution as an investigator and mentor, as well as her advocacy for science in Latin America and its dissemination to the public, are an inspiration for young scientists.''
|-
|North America
|[[Nada Jabado]]''<ref name="UNESCO PR 2024" />''
|{{Flag|Canada}} {{Flag|Lebanon}} {{Flag|France}}
| Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Pediatric Oncology, [[McGill University]], Canada
|''revolutionizing our comprehension of the genetic defects responsible for aggressive pediatric brain tumours. Her seminal discovery of the first-ever histone mutations in human disease, referred to as oncohistones, has sparked a fundamental change in the cancer research sphere. Through her innovative research and effective leadership in establishing a global collaborative network, she has reshaped the medical approach to pediatric cancer, advancing both diagnostic capabilities and clinical treatments for young patients''
|-
| rowspan="5" |2025
| rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFDAB9;" |PMC
|Africa and the Arab States
|[[Priscilla Baker]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Five Exceptional Researchers win the 2025 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/five-exceptional-researchers-win-2025-loreal-unesco-women-science-international-awards |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250602171151/https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/five-exceptional-researchers-win-2025-loreal-unesco-women-science-international-awards |archive-date=2025-06-02 |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en}}</ref>
|{{Flag|South Africa}}
|Professor of Chemistry, [[University of the Western Cape]], Cape Town, South Africa
|''for her outstanding contribution in the field of highly sensitive electrochemical microsensors for detecting contaminants in the environment, with applications in pharmaceuticals, food, health and energy.''
|-
|Asia and the Pacific
|[[Wang Xiaoyun]]<ref name=":3" />
|{{Flag|China}}
|Chen-Ning Yang Professorship, [[Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University|Institute for Advanced Study]], [[Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University|Tsinghua University]], Beijing, China
|''Rewarded for her significant contribution to cryptography and cryptographic mathematics, critical for secure data communication and storage. Her breakthrough work showed essential flaws on ''hash functions'', which are widely used in communication protocols and led to the invention of the new hash function standards. Today, these standards are used for bank cards, computer passwords, and e-commerce.''
|-
|Europe
|[[Claudia Felser]]<ref name=":3" />
|{{Flag|Germany}}
|Director and Scientific Member, [[Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids]], Dresden, Germany
|''for her pioneering work at the crossroads of physics, mathematics and chemistry that led to the discovery and creation of new magnetic materials with great promise for future green energy technologies. Her visionary approach has paved the way for the new field of “topological quantum chemistry” and sparked a revolution in the field of relativistic matter. Her outstanding dedication and impact have built a bridge from fundamental science to real-world challenges in data storage and green energy technologies.''
|-
|Latin America and the Caribbean
|[[María Teresa Dova]]<ref name=":3" />
|{{Flag|Argentina}}
|Professor at Physics Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences, [[National University of La Plata]], and Senior Researcher at [[National Scientific and Technical Research Council]] (CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
|''for her key contributions to high energy physics including the discovery and characterization of the Higgs boson, the search for new physics and her remarkable work in the study of cosmic ray physics.''
|-
|North America
|[[Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts]]<ref name=":3" />
|{{Flag|Canada}}
{{Flag|United States}}
|Distinguished Professor Emerita, Chemistry Department and Founder/Co-Director, Atmospheric Integrated Research Institute, [[University of California, Irvine]], United States of America
|''for her groundbreaking research revealing new processes in the formation of air pollution as photochemical smog, she established the molecular basis of reactions at the interfaces between atmosphere and airborne particles. Her unique ability to translate fundamental findings into real-life applications have led to seminal contributions to public policy and regulations on atmospheric chemistry, ultimately improving air quality.''
|}

Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laureates of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award {{!}} Fondation l'Oréal |url=https://www.fondationloreal.com/our-programs-women-science/laureates-loreal-unesco-women-science-international-award |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.fondationloreal.com}}</ref>

=== Special tributes ===
On the 25th anniversary of the award (2023), a special tribute was given to three researchers in exile, who were or had been forced to interrupt their scientific career in their home country and have pursued their career abroad. A financial reward and a medal of honor was awarded to [[Mursal Dawodi]] (artificial intelligence) from [[Afghanistan]], [[Ann Al Sawoor]] (mathematics) from [[Iraq]], and [[Marycelin Baba]] (molecular biology) from [[Nigeria]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=25th L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards: The Fondation L'Oréal and UNESCO pay Special Tribute to three displaced women scientists |url=https://www.loreal-finance.com/eng/news-event/25th-loreal-unesco-women-science-international-awards-fondation-loreal-and-unesco-pay |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=L'Oréal Finance |language=en}}</ref>

== International Rising Talents ==
From 2000 to 2014, fellowships were awarded yearly to doctoral and post-doctoral women to allow them to pursue their research in host laboratories outside their home countries.

Established in 2015, the International Rising Talent Grants are awarded annually to 15 PhD students and post-doctoral Fellows. They replace the former International Fellowships.

=== Laureates ===

* [[List of L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Rising Talents laureates]]

== Regional programmes ==
"Women in Science" has national and regional awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forwomeninscience.com/en/fellowships|title=National and regional programmes|work=For Women in Science|publisher=Foundation L'Oreal|language=en|access-date=16 April 2020|archive-date=25 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125081822/https://www.forwomeninscience.com/en/fellowships|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[L’Oréal Korea-UNESCO for Women in Science Award]]

== See also ==
{{portal|Science}}
* [[Women in science]]
** [[Women in chemistry]]
** [[Women in medicine]]
** [[Women in physics]]
* [[List of science and technology awards for women]]
* [[List of general science and technology awards]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Scholia}}
* {{Official website|https://www.forwomeninscience.com}}
* [https://www.loreal.com/en/usa/pages/group/fwis/ For Women in Science] at [[L'Oréal]]
* [https://en.unesco.org/science-sustainable-future/women-in-science For Women in Science] at [[UNESCO]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:L'Oreal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science}}
[[Category:Awards established in 1998]]
[[Category:French science and technology awards]]
[[Category:L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science fellows| ]]
[[Category:L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science laureates| ]]
[[Category:Lists of women scientists]]
[[Category:UNESCO awards]]