Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science: Science Outreach Category Grant

Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science: Science Outreach Category Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Springer Nature Limited
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Summary

The Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science, particularly in the Science Outreach category, honors initiatives that empower girls and young women in STEM fields. With a focus on engagement and retention, the awards aim to celebrate projects that encourage participation in natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. Winners will receive significant cash prizes and opportunities for mentorship, creating pathways for future generations of women in science.

Overview

Nature Awards Nature champions the transformational power of outstanding science and its potential to make positive change in the world. Our Nature Awards drive the goals and values that matter most to us and to you: research excellence, integrity and transparency, impact, inclusivity, engagement, sustainability, and the importance of evidence in public life. We recognize, reward, connect and celebrate researchers from all over the world who share our values and chase those goals. Inspiring Women in Science The Inspiring Women in Science awards celebrate and support the achievements of women in science, and all those who work to encourage girls and young women to engage with STEM subjects and stay in STEM careers around the world. We invite applications in two award categories — Science Outreach and Scientific Achievement. Science Outreach Category We are looking for initiatives that have either: encouraged girls or young women to engage with and study natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEM) orincreased retention of women in STEM careers, with a focus on providing tools to support women through their career progression in a STEM discipline. We accept applications from organizations, departments, individuals (of any gender), or project teams. Please nominate one spokesperson who will be our point of contact and represent the winning entry at the award ceremony. Entries will have shown exceptional vision, insight, and/or imagination, and demonstrated that they encourage, support, or promote the interests of girls and/or women in STEM. We also welcome applications that include interdisciplinary components. Prizes The winners of the Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science will receive: A prize of US$50,000An invitation to the award ceremony in London or New York, with accommodation and travel expenses paid by the organiser.Coverage on nature.com An invitation to present their work or initiative to the scientists at The Estée Lauder Companies Mentoring through The Estée Lauder Companies The runners up will receive: A prize of US$5,000An invitation to the award ceremony in London or New York, with accommodation and travel expenses paid by the organiser The shortlisted applicants will: Be profiled on the Nature Awards website Have access to an exclusive coaching and networking community

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. This category is directed at initiatives that support girls or young women to engage with, enjoy and study STEM subjects; or to increase the retention of women in STEM careers.The applications must adhere to the following: be submitted from organizations, departments, individuals (of any gender) or project teams, which are running initiatives which either:show an exceptional contribution to the promotion and engagement of girls and young women in any area of natural sciences, technology, mathematics, engineering or medicine (together, “STEM”) and exhibit the potential for developing and encouraging more girls and young women to study STEM subjects ORmake a significant and innovative contribution to retaining women in STEM careers.Names of all relevant applicants and the parent organization need to be listed and a contact spokesperson will need to be selected who will be responsible for completing the application form, will be the main point of contact, and will receive the prize on behalf of the group, if selected. Note: there are no gender-related requirements of applicants for this category. There is no restriction on the number of awards that an applicant can apply for, but an applicant cannot be selected to more than one award shortlist by the Promoter in the same calendar year.

Ineligibility

Please note that the Awards are not open at any stage to:persons resident in countries or territories where local, state, provincial or national laws prohibit the promotion of, operation of or participation in such awards or receiving prizes pursuant to the Awardpersons resident in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Burma/Myanmar, Russia, or the Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk regions of Ukraine, or other sanction-sensitive countries or regions as updated from time to time;any individual named on Specially Designated Nationals lists as updated from time to time;directors or employees (or members of their immediate families) of the Promoter or any affiliate of the Promoter;any current members of the judging panel or ambassadors (or members of their immediate families);previous winners.