L’Oréal – For Women in Science

Women have played a pivotal role in advancing science – tackling climate change, developing innovative treatments for serious diseases, improving renewable energy efficiency. Yet they remain significantly underrepresented in the field. Only one-third of researchers worldwide are women, and a mere 4% of Nobel Prizes in science have been awarded to them. This imbalance is not due to a lack of talent or ambition but rather systemic barriers that hinder women’s full participation in science.

Recognizing that the world needs science and science needs women, L’Oréal and UNESCO launched the For Women in Science (FWIS) initiative in 1998 to empower and support women scientists globally. Since its introduction in Bulgaria in 2010, the program has become a cornerstone in the country’s scientific landscape, celebrating and financially supporting outstanding female researchers. To date, FWIS has honoured over 4,400 women in over 110 countries worldwide, including seven Nobel laureates. In Bulgaria, 39 exceptional women have received awards, with a total prize fund of €195,000.

For 14 years, M3 Communications Group, Inc. has proudly coordinated this initiative, ensuring that FWIS not only recognizes talent but also fosters a more inclusive and progressive scientific community.