ELC and Springer Nature Celebrate Winners of the 2024 Inspiring Women in Science Awards

Mrs. Estée Lauder believed in the infinite possibilities of all women, and today, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) continues to honor her legacy by ensuring that the success that she fought for is accessible to all. For our company in particular, which has a global workforce comprised of 81% women, advancing possibilities for women, and particularly those in STEM fields, is both an opportunity and responsibility. As part of this commitment, ELC was honored to celebrate the 7th year of the annual Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science.  

The awards, created in partnership with Springer Nature, publisher of some of the world’s leading scientific research journals, celebrate early-career women researchers and organizations or individuals who foster a passion for STEM among girls and young women. This year, the awards were celebrated over 2 days in London and recognized winners in two categories—the Scientific Achievement Award and the Science Outreach Award. 

The Scientific Achievement Award recognizes early-career women researchers who have completed their PhD within the last 10 years and have made exceptional contributions to scientific discovery, often overcoming significant personal or professional challenges. These researchers also demonstrate potential for leading independent research groups and inspire future scientists through outreach efforts.  

This year’s Scientific Achievement Award was presented to Claire Chewapreecha, a computational biologist in the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Thailand. Claire leads a team to collect, sequence, and analyze genetic data from melioidosis, a neglected tropical disease which affects 165,000 people each year and is often fatal. Melioidosis is a bacterial infection that is spread through contact with contaminated soil or water, and Claire’s research has reduced risk through the development of a DNA-based rapid diagnostic test, enabling fast detection.  

The Science Outreach Award acknowledges individuals or organizations that have spearheaded grassroots initiatives to enhance access to, interest in, or retention of women and girls in STEM fields. 

The Science Outreach Award was awarded to Martha Alade on behalf of the WITIN Girls STEM Clubs & Outreaches in Nigeria. WITIN Girls STEM Clubs & Outreaches provide hands-on STEM programs, mentorship, and resources for socio-economically disadvantaged girls in Nigeria. It aims to ignite girls’ interest in STEM, support them in pursuing careers, and nurture leadership potentials, all of which ultimately contributes to long-term poverty reduction to close the gender gap in STEM fields. 

The evening’s award ceremony was themed around “Non-traditional careers in STEM.”  Sue Fox, President, ELC UK&I, welcomed everyone to the region’s headquarters and shared the importance of these awards at the local level. “With a regional workforce comprised of 90% women, the advancement of women and girls, particularly those in STEM, is both and opportunity and a responsibility for ELC. These awards are a testament to how important we all think this work is.”

ELC’s Lisa Napolione, Senior Vice President, Global R&D, served on the judging panel for both award categories and spoke about the depth and breadth of this year’s applications. “This year we received 210 applications from 65 countries. The caliber of applications in each category leaves me in awe every year and gives me great hope for the future. I know the impact these women who are at the center of producing such exceptional research outcomes are making, and the absolute difference those who are working to expand STEM outreach so more girls and young women around the world.”

Lisa then introduced the keynote speaker, Professor Turi King, a renowned geneticist who led the DNA identification of King Richard III. Professor King delivered a compelling keynote address to help set the tone for the evening, as she underscored the importance of gender equality in scientific research, both at the research bench and in scientific communications.

After the presentation of awards, the ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Lisa, who further emphasized the importance of working together in support of advancing women in the sciences. The day before the awards ceremony, ELC and Springer Nature hosted a vibrant Networking Day at Springer Nature’s headquarters in London. The afternoon provided the opportunity for employees across ELC and Springer Nature to learn from and engage in insightful conversations with panels that brought together professionals from various fields to discuss alternative career paths in STEM.  

Kathryn Bambino, Associate Director of Global Scientific Communications and Translational Media, and Jose Maria Velazquez, Vice President of Technical Perfumery, represented ELC on panels focusing on communicating scientific concepts to diverse audiences and ways to navigate a transition from an academic career to an industry role.  

The Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science Networking Day and Ceremony not only celebrated this year’s winners, but the entire 2024 shortlist of nominees, a collection of female trailblazers in STEM who have forged new paths in their respective fields with expertise and innovation.  

Initiatives like the Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science highlight how partnerships and collaboration across industries and sectors are critical to making strides in closing gender equality gaps, particularly within STEM. ELC is committed to continuing the vital work needed to work toward women’s advancement and gender equality, and we remain inspired by the incredible work being done each year by the awardees and applicants. With partners like Springer Nature, ELC aims to continue to open doors for women around the world.  

Learn more about how ELC is advancing possibilities for women.