At a ceremony held at the Lunario of the Auditorio Nacional, L’Oréal Groupe, UNESCO, and the Mexican Academy of Sciences recognized the excellence of eight women scientists with the 2025 “For Women in Science” award.
Leaders from science, industry, and society gathered at this iconic venue to witness the presentation of an award that highlights the path of innovation, vision, and talent that these outstanding researchers have traveled. Thanks to an investment of more than $1.55 billion pesos, the winners will be able to enhance their projects, strengthen their leadership, and expand their impact on both the scientific community and society.
The award is divided into two strategic categories, designed to promote talent at different stages of a scientific career: “Consolidated Careers,” aimed at scientists with solid experience in the exact and natural sciences, engineering, and technology; and “Emerging Talents,” focused on supporting postdoctoral research projects by young researchers in the early stages of their careers in the same fields.
During the ceremony, L’Oréal paid an emotional tribute to Julieta Fierro, a renowned woman scientist in Mexico. Her career as a researcher and communicator has brought knowledge to millions of people, inspiring generations of girls and young women to discover their scientific vocation. The recognition highlighted her decisive role in building an inclusive scientific culture, in which curiosity, rigour, and social commitment open doors for more women to lead the future of research.
“At L’Oréal, we don’t just aspire to a future with gender equality; we are actively building it. Our conviction is clear: the world needs science, and science needs women. Research is the driving force behind our company, and that is why we are proud to be a benchmark: 69% of our scientists are women, and 55% of our patents are the direct result of their ingenuity. This internal reality reflects our unwavering commitment and is irrefutable proof of the transformative power of diversity in innovation,” said Araceli Becerril, Director of Corporate Responsibility at L’Oréal Groupe Mexico.
“Recognizing female scientific excellence is fundamental to our path toward gender parity in science. Celebrating these achievements not only empowers current generations of female researchers but also inspires girls to dream of a future where science has no gender,” added Telma Castro Romero, Vice President of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and President of the Academy’s Awards Committee.
For his part, the UNESCO representative in Mexico, Andrés Morales, highlighted the importance of inspiring young women to pursue scientific careers: “It is vital to inspire young women to break down barriers and become the scientists of tomorrow, as the full participation of women in science not only enriches research with new perspectives, but also accelerates the development of innovative solutions to global challenges.”
As part of the closing ceremony, Violeta Vázquez Rojas, Undersecretary of Science and Humanities at the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, delivered a message focused on the impact and commitment from her position: “When a woman conquers a space in science, she not only opens a door for herself: she lights the way for thousands more. At SECIHTI, our commitment is unwavering: we will continue to break down barriers until female scientific excellence is the norm, not the exception.”
The “For Women in Science” program, with 19 years of experience in Mexico and more than 116 recognized scientists, has established itself as a pillar for promoting diversity and inclusion in the scientific field, fostering equal access to opportunities, resources, and visibility for women at all stages of their professional development.
At L’Oréal, we create beauty that moves the world. We are committed to building a fair, diverse, and inclusive future where women are the protagonists of their own destiny. We are proud of our legacy of female empowerment and our collaboration with women to build tomorrow.