2020 - All Press Releases

Women in STEM invited to apply for the 2020 Nature Research Award for Inspiring and Innovating Science

Application period now open for award programme that acknowledges and celebrates outstanding women working in STEM* research and outreach

London | New York | Berlin, 9 April 2020

Leading women** researchers, and those engaged in STEM outreach with girls and women are encouraged to apply for this year’s award for Inspiring and Innovating Science. The annual award programme – now in its third year – is administered by Nature Research in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies, and underlines the commitment of both organisations to promote gender equity in scientific research and education. Applications can be made via an online application form between 9 April and 14 June 2020 and the winners will be announced in October 2020 during a dedicated ceremony.

This year the award scope has been refined to include two award categories: Scientific Achievement and Science Outreach

The Scientific Achievement category is given to early-career researchers who self-identify as women, and who have made an exceptional contribution to scientific discovery and the literature, sometimes despite challenges relating to resources, location or language skills. 

The Science Outreach category is presented to a project, organisation or programme that supports girls and young women to study, engage with and enjoy STEM subjects, or that increases the retention of women in science careers. Initiatives across academia, education, NGOs, and corporate entities can be considered for the award. 

The winner of each award category receives a monetary grant of US$30,000 to spend on initiatives relating to their work, as well as additional funding for publication, event funding or mentoring through The Estée Lauder Companies and other publicity opportunities.

Winners will be selected by independent judging panels consisting of academic scientists, external experts, as well as staff from Nature Research and The Estée Lauder Companies. A shortlist will be announced in September 2020 in advance of the award ceremony and the winners will be announced in October 2020. 

Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature and judging panel member, said: “It is a great pleasure to build on the success of last year’s awards. Our winners last year - Jean Fan and The STEM Belle led by Doreen Anene - are a true inspiration and their achievements and commitment serve as valuable role models for all women and girls interested in STEM at school or as a career. We look forward to selecting and celebrating this year’s winners and providing them with a platform to inspire the next generation of women and girls. We are honored to work together with The Estée Lauder Companies to achieve this goal.”

Lisa Napolione, Senior Vice President, Global Research & Development at The Estée Lauder Companies and judging panel member, said: “Like Nature Research, The Estée Lauder Companies continues to be deeply committed to promoting women’s impact in STEM and to enhancing STEM educational opportunities for young women and girls across the globe. As a Company founded by a pioneering woman, Mrs. Estée Lauder, supporting exceptional female scientists is in our DNA, and we are truly honored to partner with Nature Research for the third year in a row on these awards. It is more important now than ever to spotlight outstanding scientific achievement and to celebrate and acknowledge the critical mentors and role models for future innovators in science. We believe cultivating a talented, diverse bench of women in STEM is key to enabling a better future.”


*STEM includes natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.
**We use an inclusive definition of ‘woman’ and ‘women’. We welcome trans women, genderqueer and non-binary people.

About Nature Research

Nature Research is a portfolio of high-quality products and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences – including journals, databases and researcher services – dedicated to serving the scientific community.

Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading, international weekly journal of science. Nature Research also publishes a range of Nature-branded subscription journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, other open access journals including Scientific Reports, and a range of Nature Partner Journals published in partnership with institutions and societies. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with Nature Research content, including news and comment from Nature, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. Nature Research also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training and expert language and editing services. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @nresearchnews. Nature Research is part of Springer Nature.

About Springer Nature

For over 175 years Springer Nature has been advancing discovery by providing the best possible service to the whole research community. We help researchers uncover new ideas, make sure all the research we publish is significant, robust and stands up to objective scrutiny, that it reaches all relevant audiences in the best possible format, and can be discovered, accessed, used, re-used and shared. We support librarians and institutions with innovations in technology and data; and provide quality publishing support to societies. 

As a research publisher, Springer Nature is home to trusted brands including Springer, Nature Research, BMC, Palgrave Macmillan and Scientific American. For more information, please visit springernature.com and @SpringerNature

About Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, By Kilian, BECCA, Too Faced and Dr. Jart+.

Further Information

For more information about last year’s winners see here.

Full details of the awards' criteria and application process are available here (link live from 10.04.2020)

Contact

Elizabeth Hawkins | Springer Nature | Communications
tel +49 6221 487 8130 | elizabeth.hawkins@springernature.com