Award recognizes outstanding early-career women scientists

Early-career women scientists across the Americas are encouraged to apply for the fourth edition of the “Science, She Says!” Award 2026, an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) that recognizes outstanding female researchers for their contributions to science, technology, and international scientific cooperation. Researchers, scientific academies, universities, and research institutions are encouraged to identify and nominate outstanding young women whose scientific achievements and international engagement merit global recognition.

The initiative aims to highlight the achievements of exceptional junior women scientists and to promote stronger international research collaboration, including connections with the Italian scientific community. Candidates are evaluated on the scientific impact of their work, their contribution to bilateral scientific and technological cooperation, support for researcher mobility, innovative collaboration models, and their potential to build long-term partnerships.

Who can be nominated

The award is open to women scientists working in countries throughout North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, as well as other world regions. One laureate will be selected from each of five geographic regions (Africa and the Middle East; Asia and the Pacific; Central and South America and the Caribbean; Europe; and North America), with eligibility determined by the applicant’s country of professional activity during the previous two years. Italian researchers are not eligible.

Eligible nominees must be women scientists with a distinguished research record, including significant scientific publications and/or technological innovation. Candidates must be 40 years old or younger (as of September 15, 2026) and must have been resident in the country of nomination since at least January 1, 2024.

Nomination Process

Importantly, the nomination process is decentralized. Each candidate must be nominated by a senior scientist holding a leading position in an academy of sciences, university, research institute, or government science and technology body in the same country where the nominee currently works. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Applications should be submitted directly to the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for the country in which the nominee is based. While each Italian diplomatic mission manages its own call and schedule, the nomination requirements and supporting documentation are broadly consistent across countries. In many countries, the submission deadline is expected to be around September 20, 2026, although applicants should verify the exact date with their local Italian diplomatic mission.

A complete nomination package includes a Nomination Form containing information about both the nominee and the nominator. For the nominee, applicants are asked to provide name, date of birth, institution, current position, postal address, and email address. For the nominator, the form requires name, institution, current position, postal address, and email address.

In addition, nominations must be accompanied by supporting documentation, including:

• Short motivation for awarding this prize (maximum 100 words) signed by the nominator.
• Nominee’s major scientific achievements (maximum 1 page).
• Nominee’s short CV (maximum 2 pages).
• List of nominee’s most important publications (maximum 1 page).
• Nominee’s activities with the Italian scientific community (maximum 1 page).
• Optional letters of support for the nomination (maximum 2 letters of maximum 1 page each). The letters of support shall be provided by eminent scientists other than the nominator.

About the Award

The“Science, She Says!” Award was established by MAECI to recognize outstanding junior female scientists working outside Italy and to strengthen international scientific cooperation. The 2026 award ceremony will be organized by the relevant Italian diplomatic mission for each selected recipient, who will receive an engraved medal and diploma.

For further information, prospective nominees and nominators should consult the website of the relevant Italian Embassy or Consulate serving their country of residence and employment.