Guided by the motto “The world needs science, and science needs women”, the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have been committed to promoting women in research since 1998. Established in Germany in 2007, the For Women in Science program has supported more than 4,700 women scientists worldwide, including seven future Nobel Prize laureates. In Germany, the program is organized in cooperation with the German Commission for UNESCO and the German Humboldt Network (Deutsches Humboldt-Netzwerk e.V.). To date, more than 50 awards have been granted nationwide.
Enabling Energy-Efficient Devices Without Conventional Batteries
This year, one of the €25,000 awards will be presented to Dr. Anna Zieleniewska from the Chair of Biogenic Functional Materials (Prof. Rubén Costa). Dr. Zieleniewska, who is also a recipient of a Liebig Fellowship, conducts research at the interface of physical chemistry and photophysics. Her work explores how electronic devices and sensors can be powered efficiently without conventional batteries by harvesting energy directly from their surroundings, such as light, heat, or humidity. To achieve this, she investigates soft, flexible energy materials at the molecular level with the aim of improving their stability and performance.
"We are proud of these outstanding women researchers whose work is shaping our daily lives and our future," said Jean-Christophe Letellier, CEO of L'Oréal DACH. "Whether in cutting-edge climate research, sustainable energy technologies, or circular robotics, this year's For Women in Science laureates demonstrate the indispensable contribution women make to scientific progress."
"Gender equality in education, science, culture, and communication has been UNESCO's highest priority for the past twenty years," added Prof. Dr. Maria Böhmer, President of the German Commission for UNESCO.” Despite considerable progress, Germany has yet to create sufficient conditions for women researchers to successfully combine academic careers with starting a family. As a result, Germany continues to rank below the EU average in the proportion of women holding top professorships. Through the For Women in Science program, we recognize outstanding scientific achievements while also highlighting the importance of ensuring equal access to careers in science for women."