Applications are now closed.

Science Outreach Category

For initiatives that support girls or young women to engage with, enjoy and study STEM subjects OR to increase the retention of women in STEM careers

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the online application form. The questions you will need to answer are listed below for reference. Entries must be complete (that is, all required fields are complete) and submitted by 12:00 midnight UTS/GMT on 20th May 2022 to be eligible. 

The application

Eligibility

• Declaration — self declaration that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria for the Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science 2022 as laid out in the award terms and conditions.
• I represent an initiative that has: encouraged  girls or young women to engage with and study STEM OR increased retention of women in STEM careers, with a focus on providing tools to support women through their career progression in a STEM discipline.
• Please select the area(s) of STEM that the initiative covers: natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine
• The initiative is run by [please select the category]: an individual, academic entity, educational entity, charitable entity, governmental entity or corporate entity, other [please describe]
• If corporate, I confirm: initiative is part of a corporate social responsibility programme and not part of core commercial operations
• The initiative is focused primarily on girls/women and benefits greater than 50% girls/women
• The applicant is resident in any country, other than those prescribed in the terms and conditions.
• The applicant (or members of their immediate families) are not a director or employee of the Springer Nature; any holding company or subsidiary of Springer Nature; or the judging panel.

Applicant and initiative details

• Full name of the individual or academic, educational, charitable, governmental or corporate entity responsible.
• Name of the initiative
• Address of the initiative  - including city, country and postal/ZIP code
• Name of contact spokesperson
• Job title of contact spokesperson
• Email of contact spokesperson
• Phone number (including country code) of contact spokesperson
• Please define the exact involvement of the spokesperson in the described initiative
• Organizer
• Participant
• Started the initiative
• Other

Description of initiative

This section is to inform the later questions and is not scored.

• Please provide a 50 word summary of what your initiative does - pitch the initiative to us in a concise and informative way (maximum 50 words).
• Provide links to your website and/or social media accounts.
• What % proportion of your target group consists of girls or women?  If less than 100%, please explain how the initiative is focused primarily on girls/women.
• For how many years has your initiative been running?
• Specify the exact countries in which your initiative has an impact and briefly describe how the initiative operates in each country (maximum 300 words).

This section is scored

• Why did you start the initiative? (maximum 200 words)
• Please describe your mission statement and goals? (maximum 200 words)
• How often do you organize activities:
• Daily
• Once a week
• Once a month
• Once a year
• Other
• Please select the method(s) used to deliver your initiative’s activities:
• Social media
• Blog posts
• Website
• One-on-one contacts (in person, email or phone)
• Lecture
• Workshop, science fair
• Networking event
• Other [provide details]
• Describe how the method(s) selected are used for running the initiative. If you operate in different countries, please describe how the method varies in each country. (maximum 200 words).
• What methods do you use to measure the success of your initiative? (Maximum 150 words)
• Please list 6 examples of the results of these methods - 3 using quantitative (numerical) data and 3 using qualitative data (such as anecdotal evidence, quotes, comments or testimonials, social media). (maximum 100 words per example).
• How many girls/women have you reached to date, since you started your initiative? Please list a number.
• Please state how many additional girls/women you plan to reach in next 12 months? Please list a number.
• Please describe your existing plans for the next 12-24 months of your initiative, showing how you will increase the reach or improve the impact of the initiative. (maximum 500 words).
• Please breakdown a simple budget (showing $ spend per item) of how would you use the additional $50,000 to further improve and scale up the initiative. (maximum 300 words)
• Describe how your initiative would benefit from the prestige of winning this award? (maximum 200 words)
• Additionally we invite you to describe the particular challenges, professional or personal, that your initiative has faced during the course of your science outreach  (maximum 500 words).  *This question will not be scored but will be used to provide context should your application proceed to the judges’ panel discussion.

Shortlist Profile
If your application is shortlisted, the responses to the following points will constitute your profile on the shortlist page of the awards website.  This section is not judged:

• In simple terms, introduce the project and your organization, department or group and tell us a little about what it does  (maximum 150 words).
• What are some of the challenges that the project or organization has  faced whilst working on engaging girls and young women with STEM or supporting women to stay in STEM and what lessons have you learnt (maximum 150 words)?
• What advice would you give to someone wanting to do STEM outreach (maximum 150 words)?
• Please include a short statement  about why it is important to encourage more girls to be interested in/engage with STEM subjects, or to support more women to stay in STEM. (maximum 200 words).
• Please provide an organization logo (organisations) or photo (personal applicants), in high-resolution 150 x 150 pixel JPEG format.

NB: Parts of the above will be used on the website, mentoring site  and across promotional materials.

I confirm that I hold the permissions for this logo/photograph.

Terms and conditions for applicants

By applying, applicants agree to the terms and conditions of the award programme.

Key dates

Applications: applications are invited between 27th January 2022 and 12:00 midnight UTS/GMT on 20th May 2022

Shortlist: the shortlist will be announced in September 2022.

Winner: the winner will be invited to the award ceremony, which will take place in London in October 2022, if circumstances permit.

Contact

Please contact us at awards@nature.com if you require any further information.

Scientific Achievement Category

For early-career women researchers

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the online application form. The questions you will need to answer are listed below for reference. Entries must be complete (that is, all required fields are completed) and submitted by 12:00 midnight UTS/GMT on 20th May 2022 to be eligible.

The application

Eligibility

• Declaration — self declaration that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria for the Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science 2022 as laid out in the award terms and conditions.
• I self-identify as a woman (please note that we use an inclusive definition of ‘woman’ and ‘women’. We welcome trans women, genderqueer and non-binary people.).
• I hold a  PhD degree or a medical degree, or other type of doctorate by dissertation
• I obtained my PhD or medical degree or other type of doctorate by dissertation after 31st December 2012, which can be  extended backwards by the duration of any maternity leave(s) or other absences during this period.
• At the time of application, I am in a non-tenured research position.
• At the time of application, I am working in natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine.
• Date PhD* and/or medical degree** degree received.  *PhD degree or other type of doctorate by dissertation.  ** If you hold both a PhD and medical  degree, please list the graduation date of the most recently received
• Extended leaves of absence, if any: exact dates + duration.  After receipt of PhD or medical degree
• Please provide a letter from your HR department or department head confirming that you are in a non-tenured position.
• Please provide a copy of your degree certificate that attests the date your degree was awarded.
• The applicant is resident in any country, other than those prescribed in the terms and conditions.
• The applicant (or members of their immediate families) are not a directors or employee of the Springer Nature; any holding company or subsidiary of Springer Nature; or the judging panel

Applicant details

• Full name
• Job title
• Email address
• Phone number (including country code)
• Applicant address - including city, country and postal/ZIP code
• Main affiliation
• Address of the main affiliation  - including city, country and postal/ZIP code
• Second affiliation (if applicable)
• Address of the second affiliation  - including city, country and postal/ZIP code (if applicable)
• PhD or medical degree or other type of doctorate by dissertation (discipline + university + graduation year)
• Address of the awarding institution  - including city, country and postal/ZIP code
• Postgraduate experience
• ORCID ID
• Please provide a 50 word summary of your research - pitch your research to us in a concise and informative way (maximum 50 words).

Scientific achievements

• What is your main research area:
• Natural sciences
• Technology
• Engineering
• Mathematics
• Medicine
• Summarise your main research interests or projects, explaining in particular how you have approached the scientific questions you are tackling (maximum 400 words).
• Describe how your research has advanced your research field (maximum 500 words).
• Explain how your research has had an impact beyond your research field, for example, societal impact, impact on other research fields etc. (maximum 500 words).
• Provide up to 5 of your most scientifically important  publications (articles, books and book chapters) and explain (maximum 200 words each) why you selected them.
• Provide up to 5 key highlights of your research career excluding publications (for example, posters or talks at conferences, successful grant applications, scientific prizes, contribution to policy documents, patents or other technological innovations etc.) and explain (maximum 200 words each) why you selected them.
• Briefly explain your research plans for the near future and your long term vision and explain how the prize would help you to accomplish your vision and increase the impact of your research (maximum 600 words).  *We will aim to contact winners to get updates on their careers.
• Describe any research collaborations in which you are involved. (maximum 200 words)
• If your work has been cited and built upon by other researchers, provide details. (maximum 200 words)
• Summarise your achievements in other, more qualitative academic or career activities, for example: additional teaching activities, course design, contributions to university or institution policies, university management, student recruitment, mentoring, training, peer review, academic editing (maximum 500 words).
• Additionally we invite you to describe particular challenges, professional or personal, that you have faced during the course of your studies and scientific career (maximum 500 words).  * This question will not be scored but will be used to provide context should your application proceed to the judges’ panel discussion.

How have you inspired the next generation of STEM researchers?

• Describe how you have led or been directly involved in any general science outreach activities beyond your core duties?  (maximum 200 words).
• Please complete the following information about your most impactful outreach activity:
• Provide a brief description and a short explanation why you selected to highlight this activity for the award (maximum 300 words).
• Who was the target audience of this activity (maximum 20 words)?

Shortlist profile

If your application is shortlisted, the responses to the following points will constitute your shortlist profile.  This section is not judged:

• In simple terms, please introduce yourself, your field of research and your job role (150 words).
• What challenges did you face on your journey to where you are now and how did you manage them (150 words)?
• What is one piece of advice or encouragement you would give other girls or women starting out on their science career? What was the best advice given to you (150 words)?
• Please describe anyone that has mentored or inspired you (150 words)?
• Please provide a black-and-white headshot photograph in high-resolution 150 x 150 pixel JPEG format.

NB: Parts of the above will be used on the website, mentoring site  and across promotional materials.

I confirm that I hold the permissions for this logo/ photograph.

Terms and conditions for applicants

By applying, applicants agree to the terms and conditions of the award programme.

Key dates

Applications: applications are invited between 27th January 2022 and 12:00 midnight UTS/GMT on 20th May 2022.

Shortlist: the shortlist will be announced in September 2022.

Winner: the winner will be invited to the award ceremony, which will take place in London in October 2022, if circumstances permit.

Contact

Please contact us at awards@nature.com if you require any further information.

This information is subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any resulting restrictions.