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L’Oréal–UNESCO “For Women in Science” Award
Quito, May 2025 — With the participation of academic authorities, institutional representatives, and prominent scientists, the official launch of the 2025 edition of the L’Oréal–UNESCO “For Women in Science” Award for the Andean Region took place. This initiative promotes gender equity in the scientific field and highlights the essential contributions of women in the construction of knowledge.
This launch marks the second edition of the award in Ecuador, reaffirming the commitment of UNESCO and L’Oréal to enhancing the visibility, leadership, and recognition of Ecuadorian women scientists. The event brought together university authorities, civil society representatives, members of the scientific community, and strategic partners who make this initiative possible.
In Ecuador, the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) has been a key partner since the program’s inception, consolidating this platform as a concrete opportunity to highlight outstanding research led by women. This year, the program also celebrates the incorporation of a new strategic partner: the Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES), whose participation strengthens the regional network and expands opportunities for impact among Andean women scientists.
Despite progress, global statistics show that only one in three researchers is a woman, and access to funding, visibility, and leadership remains unequal. In higher education, women represent only 35% of enrollments in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). In this context, the award is not an isolated event, but part of a global movement for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive science.
Since its launch in the Andean Region — in Peru (2010), Colombia (2016), and Ecuador (2024) — the program has recognized more than 100 outstanding women scientists, bringing visibility to their work in various fields of knowledge. The 2025 edition seeks to continue this legacy, with participation from all three countries.
Beyond recognition, the initiative is part of an active global community: the international For Women in Science platform, which brings together more than 2,400 researchers from 110 countries across more than 20 disciplines, fostering exchange, mentorship, and international collaboration.
During the event, tributes were paid to Dr. Eugenia del Pino, a renowned figure in Ecuadorian science and an international laureate of the award, as well as to Dr. Ximena Jaramillo Fierro, laureate of the 2024 edition, for her innovative work in developing ceramic filters for water purification using industrial and agro-industrial materials.
In her address, UNESCO Representative in Ecuador, Tatiana Villegas, issued a call to action on three key fronts: “to give visibility to women scientists, to inspire early scientific vocations, and to promote inclusive and equitable scientific environments. The future of science will be brighter if it is fairer.”
This statement captures the spirit of an award that, since 1998, has recognized more than 4,400 women scientists worldwide — including seven who later received the Nobel Prize.
At UNESCO, we reaffirm our commitment to a science that reflects the diversity of the world and provides equitable opportunities to all those who contribute their talent to our shared progress.
