Five pioneering women scientists from the Global South have been recognized with the 2026 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists, honoring their contributions to sustainable energy. Announced just ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, these awards celebrate their work in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all.
The 2026 awardees have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in addressing urgent energy challenges. Their research encompasses pioneering projects such as solar-powered refrigeration for rural health centers and geospatial modeling for forecasting community energy demand. These scientists are not only making significant impacts within their fields but are also actively involved in mentorship, fostering inclusion, and supporting their communities.
Luisa Echeverria King, President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), remarked, “These five outstanding scientists demonstrate how scientific leadership can drive meaningful responses to the energy challenges faced by their communities. Through their work, they are not only generating solutions but also positioning themselves as role models and points of reference for other women across their regions, fostering pathways of leadership, collaboration, and long-term impact.”
The 2026 award winners are:
- Cristina Dominguez, Guatemala: Engineering sciences
- Fadia Alhaj Hussien, Syria: Chemical sciences
- Duleeka Sandamali Gunarathne, Sri Lanka: Engineering sciences
- Tabitha Awuor Amollo, Kenya: Physics
- Victoire Ghafi Kondi Akara, Togo: Physics
Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation, added, “Together OWSD, the Elsevier Foundation, and these pioneering women are expanding the possibilities of sustainable energy for least developed communities—emphasizing the vital role of women scientists in advancing the global energy transformation through well-deserved recognition and visibility.”
Since 2013, the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award has celebrated the achievements of 84 women scientists from over 38 countries in the global South. Award recipients receive a cash prize of USD $5,000 and a travel grant to an international conference to support their professional development and collaboration.
Past recipients have gained global media recognition, connected with national leaders, assumed leadership roles in science and technology, and received further honors, including the L’OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowships.
