Women's Impact Award
Are you a pioneering woman in science driving real change? The Women’s Impact Award honours researchers whose work advances gender equality and creates tangible societal impact.
Despite making up half of the world’s population, women and girls still face systemic inequality. This award celebrates visionary scientists whose interdisciplinary, ground-breaking research not only addresses these disparities but also generates societal impact, directly improving the lives of women and girls. Apply now or nominate an outstanding scientist to become the next Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Women’s Impact category!
Highlights of the Award
- 10 Finalists will be selected by a distinguished jury and publicly announced to gain global recognition.
- Out of these, 3 Winners will be invited to the International Fall Gathering and Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, Germany from 7–9 November 2025.
- Among the winners, one exceptional researcher will be honoured as the Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Women’s Impact category and will present on the prestigious Breakthrough stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit on 9 November 2025.
What we are looking for
- Applicants must be women* researchers from anywhere in the world, holding at least a postdoctoral or equivalent leadership position. They should have a post-PhD or equivalent, demonstrating leadership and substantial contributions to their field.
- Research projects must:
- Include a specific gender-related issue (including interfaces to research disciplines, like Physical Sciences). Example: You are investigating gender bias in AI.
- Consider gender equality into its design/methodology, i.e. in how the research is planned and carried out. Example: Your data is gender-balanced.
- Ideally empower women and girls through its research and results (optional). Example: Your project improves the lives of women and girls.
Who Can Nominate
- Universities and research institutions
- Companies with research labs
- Scientific foundations
- Partner organizations of Falling Walls
- Leading scientists in the field
DEADLINE EXTENSION: Big breakthroughs take time. We have extended the deadline to 15 May 2025 to make space for even more voices, ideas, and innovations from around the world. Nominate or apply today.
The Women’s Impact Award is a collaborative initiative by the Falling Walls Foundation, the Elsevier Foundation, and the Volkswagen Foundation.
*Falling Walls Female Science Talents uses an inclusive definition of women and welcomes submissions from cis and trans women, genderqueer and non-binary people.
WINNERS 2024
RELEVANT INFORMATION
- Universities and research institutions
- Companies with research labs
- Scientific foundations
- Partner organisations of Falling Walls
- Leading scientists in their field
We welcome submissions from women researchers from all disciplines who:
- Are researchers at least at the postdoctoral level, similar level or higher.
- Conduct a ground-breaking research project directly connected to one of the 17 SDGs which:
- Tackles a specific gender related topic,
- Incorporates gender equality into its design,
- Ideally enables and empowers underserved communities through the design of the research and/or its application.
- The research project must be running and active at the time of the submission. Being in the funding or ideation phase is not considered eligible.
Nominations that do not fit these selection criteria will not be considered for evaluation.
Please note that all nominations have to be submitted in English.
The Winners will:
- Receive a travel scholarship for Berlin from 7–9 November 2025 and participate in the International Fall Gathering and the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025.
- Benefit from an increased reach and visibility for you and your research on a global level.
- Get unique networking opportunities with global leaders in science, politics, business, and the media.
- Become part of the inspiring Female Science Talents community and get access to the Female Science Talents community channels.
- Become a champion that inspires the vision of gender equality in science.
- Engage with other Falling Walls projects, including Falling Walls Venture, Falling Walls Engage, Falling Walls Lab and partners.
In addition, the Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Women's Impact Award category will:
- Receive a digital pitch training in October.
- Present on the grand Breakthrough stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit on 9 November 2025 together with other Science Breakthroughs of the Year in other categories.
STEP 1
Click on the button above “Nominate or Apply Now”.
STEP 2
Select if you are nominating or applying (drop-down menu).
STEP 3
Select the category “Women’s Impact Award” (drop-down menu).
STEP 4
If you are nominating someone, nominees will get an email inviting them to complete their nomination.
STEP 5
Nominees and applicants will be informed about the selection process per email.
30 April
Closing of the Call for Nominations.
June
- A pre-selection of applications is led by our Selection Committee.
July
- A distinguished Jury consisting of up to 6 Members, among them renown scientists, partners and representatives of the Female Science Talents community, will shortlist 10 Finalists.
- The Jury will select 3 Winners in the Women’s Impact Award category.
August
- The Winners will be announced on the Falling Walls Female Science Talents website.
- The Jury will announce the Breakthrough of the Year 2025 in the Women’s Impact Award category.
- Start of travel planning.
October
Digital pitch training workshop and onboarding into our global community of Female Science Talents.
7–9 November 2025
International Fall Gathering & Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, Germany.
7 November 2025
In-person Award Ceremony and Gala Dinner in Berlin, Germany.
If you have further questions about the Women's Impact Award, please reach out to: femalesciencetalents@falling-walls.com
For more information on Female Science Talents, check out our About Page.
Please read our Terms & Conditions before applying.
