L’Oréal UNESCO Award “For Women in Science” 2025
Four young female researchers receive highly endowed award in Düsseldorf: “For Women in Science” Award
UNESCO is committed to equal opportunities and gender equality in education, science, culture, and communication worldwide (English, Deutsch)
Düsseldorf. "On September 18, 2025, L’Oréal, the German Commission for UNESCO, and the German Humboldt Research Network will once again honor four outstanding female scientists for their research contributions with the “For Women in Science” Award. This year, the award ceremony will take place for the first time at the NRW Forum in Düsseldorf, and the award will be presented for the 19th time. This year's award winners conduct research at institutes in Frankfurt, Jülich, Karlsruhe, and Münster.
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| SZ-Zeppelin, Foto: Helga Waess (Cover Kunst-Kultur-Blog) |
Under the motto "The world needs science – and science needs women,"
the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have been committed to promoting excellent women in research since 1998.
With their "For Women in Science" program, which has also been established in Germany since 2007, they have supported 4,400 female scientists worldwide, including seven future Nobel Prize winners.
In Germany, the program is organized in cooperation with the German Humboldt Network. To date, over 50 young female scientists in Germany have received the coveted award.
This year's awards ceremony will take place on September 18, 2025, in Düsseldorf
– marking the first time in the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, after several years in Berlin. Arabella Kiesbauer will host the evening. Also on the program are keynote speeches from Susanne Sorg (Board Member of Hartmann Tresore AG), Dr. Nina Smidt (CEO of Siemens Stiftung), and entrepreneur Tijen Onaran.
This year, the prizes, each worth €25,000,
will be awarded to:
Dr. Rana Hussein Ali (Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main)
... researches photosynthesis and uses high-resolution methods to investigate the processes of proton release in photosystem II. Her work could support the future development of groundbreaking concepts for sustainable energy technologies.
Dr. Line Muradi (Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Münster)
... researches light-controlled organic reactions that use water as an environmentally friendly solvent. By using special amphiphilic substances, she is developing new sustainable methods for the synthesis of important compounds and contributing to greener chemistry.
Dr. Casey Paquola (Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich Research Center)
... analyzes and models human brain development using MRI scans to understand the development of psychiatric disorders and to develop targeted preventive measures in the future.
Dr. Jingyuan Xu (Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology [KIT])
Her research focuses on the development of environmentally friendly cooling technologies based on the use of shape memory alloys. This innovative method enables more energy-efficient cooling and offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cooling systems.
"In the EU, the proportion of female researchers is only 34%, and in Germany, even less than 30%," commented Jean-Christophe Letellier, CEO of L'Oréal DACH. "Despite the significant contributions women make to research, they often face systemic barriers. 'For Women in Science' is therefore much more than an awards ceremony – we are actively committed to breaking down these barriers. We don't just want to promote the excellent research of our award winners; we want to raise awareness of these impressive women. Our L'Oréal home base in Düsseldorf is perfectly suited to host the event – North Rhine-Westphalia, as a major research and media location, stands for science, innovation, the advancement of women, and diversity."
"UNESCO is committed to equal opportunities and gender equality in education, science, culture, and communication worldwide," adds Prof. Dr. Maria Böhmer, President of the German Commission for UNESCO. "However, women still face difficulties gaining a foothold in research and pursuing careers. Balancing a scientific career with starting a family is still too challenging in Germany. With 'For Women in Science,' we are not only honoring excellent scientific achievements but also strengthening the structures that enable women to have equal access to science."
Source: UNESCO - Quote from the press release of September 8, 2025
