The call for applications for the 2022 OWSD Awards is currently ongoing.
The OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists reward and encourage women working and living in developing countries in the early stages of their scientific careers, often overcoming significant challenges to achieve research excellence.
Moreover, OWSD (The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World) presents an annual award for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World with funds generously provided by the Elsevier Foundation, in recognition of young women scientists living and working in scientifically lagging countries who have made significant contributions to science and the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
The awards programme grew out of a one-time award given in 2011 by OWSD, the Elsevier Foundation and TWAS, the World Academy of Sciences, given to 11 early-career women from developing countries working in STEM subjects. In 2013, the awards programme was launched, with the number of awards reduced to 5 per year on a three-year rotation of award categories. The eligible scientific disciplines for each year were organized into general fields: Biological sciences; Engineering, innovation & technology; and Physical sciences.
After ten years of celebrating women in science, in 2021, OWSD decided to re-focus the awards to respond to the call for action set forth by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, the number of awards will continue to be 5 per year (one from each OWSD region plus one additional outstanding candidate) for a period of five years (2022 – 2026).
See also D Prize Challenge.
Eligibility For The 2022 OWSD Awards
- Awardees must have made a demonstrable impact on the research environment, both at a regional and international level, and must have received their PhD in the last ten years.
- The applicant must be a female scientist, within 10 years of receiving her PhD, who has lived and worked in one of the 66 scientifically and technologically lagging countries (STLCs) for at least 5 of the last 15 years.
2022 OWSD Awards Cycle
The new awards cycle will follow a five-year rotation, and applications will be open for scientists working to advance knowledge in the following research areas:
2022 Awards: Climate action and the environment – applications in 2021.
2023 Awards: Food Security, agricultural productivity and sustainable food production – applications in 2022.
2024 Awards: Water, sanitation and hygiene – applications in 2023.
2025 Awards: Inclusive Health – applications in 2024.
2026 Awards: Sustainable, affordable and reliable energy – applications in 2025.
OWSD Areas Of Focus
The awards seek applications from women researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) – and how they intersect with the SDG. The eligible scientific fields are as follows:
- Agricultural Sciences.
- Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences.
- Biological Systems and Organisms.
- Chemical Sciences.
- Computing and Information Technology.
- Engineering Sciences.
- Mathematical Sciences.
- Medical and Health Sciences (including Neurosciences).
- Physics.
- Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology.
See also African Youth Adaptation Solutions Challenge
What You Stand To Gain
Each winner will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000 which will be awarded during a special networking ceremony held at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), held every year in February in the U.S.A. In addition, all expenses will be covered for the 5-day trip (including registration and attendance of the conference, return airfare, hotel accommodation and visa costs).
During the AAAS meeting, awardees will attend workshops and sessions at the AAAS meeting, visit local laboratories and institutions, and attend a celebratory dinner organized by the Elsevier Foundation. In addition, the meeting is an important opportunity to establish contacts and build networks with colleagues from different parts of the world.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 28 October 2021 (24:00 CET).
How To Apply
Click on this link to apply.
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