Are you a pioneering woman in science driving real change? The Women’s Impact Award honours researchers whose work advances gender equality and creates tangible societal impact.
Despite making up half of the world’s population, women and girls still face systemic inequality. This award celebrates visionary scientists whose interdisciplinary, ground-breaking research not only addresses these disparities but also generates societal impact, directly improving the lives of women and girls. Apply now or nominate an outstanding scientist to become the next Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Women’s Impact category!
Highlights of the Award
- 10 Finalists will be selected by a distinguished jury and publicly announced to gain global recognition.
- Out of these, 3 Winners will be invited to the International Fall Gathering and Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, Germany from 7–9 November 2025.
- Among the winners, one exceptional researcher will be honoured as the Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Women’s Impact category and will present on the prestigious Breakthrough stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit on 9 November 2025.
What we are looking for
- Applicants must be women* researchers from anywhere in the world, holding at least a postdoctoral or equivalent leadership position. They should have a post-PhD or equivalent, demonstrating leadership and substantial contributions to their field.
- Research projects must:
- Address a specific gender-related issue (including interfaces to research disciplines, like Physical Sciences).
- Include gender equality into their design/methodology, i.e. in how the research is planned and carried out.
- Ideally empower women and girls, especially in underserved communities, through their research and its results.
Who Can Nominate
- Universities and research institutions
- Companies with research labs
- Scientific foundations
- Partner organizations of Falling Walls
- Leading scientists in the field
The Women’s Impact Award is a collaborative initiative by the Falling Walls Foundation, the Elsevier Foundation, and the Volkswagen Foundation.
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