UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists
The UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will foster collaboration, advancement and popularization of science and international cooperation to advance scientific expertise globally and meet the needs of young scientists in countries that are lagging behind in science and technology.
1st edition of the Prize
The Call for applications for the first edition of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the promotion of young scientists in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is now open! Nominate an outstanding STEM researcher for a chance to highlight their work and the importance of science, engineering, technology and mathematics.
Deadline: 15 November 2022
Science has been transforming the world we live in. It has been impacting our quality of life in a myriad of ways. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are at the heart of this science-led process of change. STEM are increasingly recognized as fundamental driver of countries’ socio-economic development strategies.
Many countries are experiencing STEM education crises. The best and brightest students are opting out of STEM subjects at alarming rates, due to lack of interest, lack of access, as well as the lack of teaching methodologies and in many cases the absence of inspiration through role models. We need role models, but we also need to address the challenges facing girls and women in STEM education. We need to introduce more gender responsive approach to teaching STEM subjects and to ensure that we reduce the gender gap in digital literacy.
2022 marks the first edition of the Prize.
About the Prize
The UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) aims to strengthen STEM research, STEM education and international cooperation to confront the global challenges addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Prize will give recognition to the achievements of young people that are conducive to socio-economic transformation and development on a global scale while also increasing the interest of young people, particularly girls and women, in science so as to promote gender equality, scientific literacy and the choice of a scientific career.
It is awarded every two years to five laureates from the five geographic regions of UNESCO (Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean), its purpose to encourage youth participation in STEM, in particular women and girls, so as to promote gender equality, scientific literacy and the choice of a scientific career.
The Prize consists of an award of US $ 50,000 for each of the five laureates as well as a medal and a diploma. In line with UNESCO’s global priority on Gender Equality, the proposed Prize will also serve to encourage more women to adopt and pursue a STEM career.
The Al Fozan Foundation (Saudi Arabia) proposed to establish and fund a UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the promotion of young scientists in STEM to contribute to generating STEM research, technology, and innovation, as well as pushing the production and application of scientific knowledge to the centre of societal and economic development, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Application process
Eligibility Criteria
The Prize is awarded to candidates shall have earned recognition for their significant achievement/contribution to:
- Research in the STEM including the emerging technologies or;
- STEM education, dissemination of research findings, as well as creativity and innovation or;
- International or regional cooperation in STEM.
Candidates must be less than 40 years old at the time of the application deadline.
Candidatures of young women scientists are encouraged.
Who can submit nominations?
The nominations can be submitted by the following entities:
- Governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions
- Non-governmental organizations maintaining official partnerships with UNESCO and active in relevant fields covered by the Prize
- UNESCO Chairs
- Category 2 Centres
- International scientific unions
- Universities
Nominations must be completed in full in English or French.
Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written recommendation, which shall include:
- a description of the candidate’s background and achievements
- a summary of the work, publications and other supporting documents of major importance, submitted for consideration
- a description of the candidate’s contribution to the Prize’s objectives.
No self-nomination shall be considered.
Jury
The five members of the jury of the Prize were appointed in February 2022 by the Director-General for a two-year period, renewable for a maximum period of six years. These members of the international scientific community, with recognized expertise in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will review the applications and submit their recommendations to the Director-General.
Didier Queloz (Switzerland)
2019 Nobel Prize in Physics
Professor of Physics – Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory
Ngo Bao Chau (Vietnam)
2010 Fields Medal
Distinguished Professor, Chicago University
Edna Matta-Camacho (Colombia)
Structural biologist
Founder of STEM Tolima
Fadji Zaouna Maina (Niger)
Associate Earth scientist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Adah Almutairi (Saudi Arabia)
Director of the Center for Excellence in Nanomedicine and Engineering
University of California, San Diego
Contact
Secretariat of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in STEM
Natural Sciences Sector
UNESCO
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris SP 07, France
Email : unescoalfozanprize@unesco.org