Palacio da Cidade hosts the 20th edition of the Women in Science Prize

The headquarters of the Rio de Janeiro City Council, Palacio da Cidade, will host, on Thursday night (4), the twentieth edition of the “For Women in Science” Prize, a program of the L’Oréal Group in Brazil, in partnership with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and UNESCO in Brazil. The mission is to further promote and encourage women’s scientific paths and expand women’s representation in areas essential to the country’s development. This initiative falls within a global program that annually targets more than 350 young scientists around the world in 110 countries through regional and national initiatives.

In the 2025 edition, eight researchers were honored with grants worth R$ 50,000 in areas such as life sciences, physical sciences, chemical sciences and mathematics, in addition to the unprecedented integration of engineering sciences and technology, representing the expansion of the program and confirming its commitment to the diversification and qualification of scientific production in Brazil. Since its inception, the awards have been awarded to more than 140 researchers, with a total of more than R$7 million invested in projects that contribute to scientific progress in Brazil.

“In this year in which we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the For Women in Science initiative in Brazil, we reaffirm the L’Oréal Group’s historic commitment to the advancement of science and women’s leadership. Science is one of the most powerful tools we have to address social, environmental and technological challenges. When women lead this research, we gain diversity of perspectives and innovation. Our laureates show, year after year, that supporting female scientists is an investment in trusted knowledge, social impact and the fight against misinformation. This is very important,” says Cristina “This is inspiring,” said Garcia, L’Oréal Group’s Director of Advanced Research and Scientific Communication for Latin America.

This event, presented by ELA Editor-in-Chief Marina Caruso, will feature Helena Nader, President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), Marlova Jovčilović, Director and Representative of UNESCO in Brazil, Luciana Santos, Minister of Science and Technology, Margaret Dalcomo, Pulmonologist at Fiocruz, and Cananda Iler, Scientist and Content Creator.

Find out about the winners below:

Life sciences
The project prepared by researcher Jacqueline Satchet, professor at Amazonas State University and winner of the Life Sciences category, addresses a serious problem facing indigenous, quilombola and riparian populations: accidents caused by venomous animals, especially pit viper bites. His research investigates two complementary fronts, the effectiveness of photobiomodulation – low-intensity light therapy – as a support for antivenom therapy, seeking to reduce infection and accelerate recovery, and mapping the physical and neurosensory impairments resulting from envenomation, which are essential for understanding long-term consequences and promoting the need for public policy.

Jacqueline Sachet, Professor at Amazonas State University - Photo: Errico Xavier — Jacqueline Sachet, Professor at Amazonas State University – Photo: Errico Xavier

The project by National Institute of the Atlantic Forest professor Juliana Hipolito, winner of the Life Sciences category, is dedicated to more precisely understanding the dynamics between pollinators and plants, an ecological service essential for biodiversity and global food security. To reveal interactions invisible to traditional methods, she will use environmental DNA collected in the Río Doce Basin, a technology capable of identifying genetic material left behind in the environment by different organisms. The study will analyze areas with varying levels of disturbance and restoration, allowing us to map pollination networks, and develop innovative tools to assess the recovery of ecosystem services and guide conservation strategies.

Juliana Hipolito, professor at the National Institute of the Atlantic Forest - Photo: Disclosure — Juliana Hipolito, professor at the National Institute of the Atlantic Forest – Photo: Disclosure

The other winner in the Life Sciences category was Professor at the Federal University of Grande Dorados, Luana Rosato. The scientist is studying how exposure to pesticides and forest fires in the Pantanal region could lead to the emergence of environmental fungi that are resistant to antifungals and capable of causing serious diseases in humans. Their study will analyze fungi found in soil, water and vegetation under different levels of pollution, examining their genetic material for genes associated with virulence and drug resistance. In doing so, Luana seeks to support health surveillance and early warning strategies for rural and indigenous populations, reinforcing the importance of viewing human, animal and environmental health in an integrated way.

Luana Rosato, Professor at the Federal University of Grande Dorados - Photo: Disclosure — Luana Rosato, Professor at the Federal University of Grande Dorados – Photo: Disclosure

Finally, the project of researcher Sonera Silva, professor at the Federal University of Acre – Campos Floresta, looks into solutions to improve fire monitoring in the Amazon region, a practice still used in traditional agricultural management, but which, with the progress of deforestation, the regeneration of degraded pastures and illegal activities, has led to increasingly frequent and out-of-control fires. His project will analyze burned areas in Acre, combining remote sensing, air pollution studies and forest inventories to distinguish between agricultural fires and forest fires and understand their impacts on forests, climate and land use.

Sonera Silva, Professor at Acre Federal University - Floresta Campus - Photo: Disclosure — Sonera Silva, Professor at Acre Federal University – Floresta Campus – Photo: Disclosure

Engineering and technology
Scientist Paola Massaira, winner of the Engineering and Technology category, is a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), and studies how Brazil can make a safe and efficient energy transition in a context where, despite advances in renewable sources, oil and gas production remains important. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning models, it analyzes the risks and uncertainties associated with decommissioning oil platforms and replacing fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives. Its work seeks to support smarter decisions in line with the future of the planet, at a time when Brazil will be one of the countries deactivating the most platforms in the world, a process that can protect the oceans, generate qualified jobs and foster national innovation in the energy transition.

Paola Masaira is a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) – Photo: Disclosure

Mathematical sciences
Professor at the Federal University of Santa María (UFSM), Renata Rojas Guerra, winner of the Mathematical Sciences category, is developing statistical methods capable of analyzing and predicting data that vary within fixed limits – such as ratios between 0% and 100% – that change over time, and are essential for monitoring UN Sustainable Development Goal indicators. His work uses satellite imagery to monitor the impacts of fires and deforestation in biomes such as the Amazon and Cerrado, contributing to more effective environmental public policies, as well as analyzing educational indicators to understand regional inequalities. Renata is also committed to scientific publishing through StatUFSM, bringing society closer to science and encouraging new generations, integrating theory, statistical analysis and practical applications for the benefit of sustainable development.

Renata Rojas Guerra, Professor at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) – Photo: Disclosure

Physical sciences
Researcher Theis Azevedo Inoki Liarte, winner of the Physics category, is a professor at the University of São Paulo (USP) and studies how the asymmetry of cell membranes, which have different compositions in their inner and outer layers, affects the functioning of cells and may be linked to diseases. The research focuses on understanding the distribution of cholesterol in these layers, and seeks to determine how structural changes distinguish healthy cells from diseased cells, paving the way for new diagnostic methods and, in the future, for the development of more effective drugs, such as antivirals and anesthetics.

Researcher Taiz Azevedo Inoki Liarte, winner in the Physics category - Photo: Disclosure — Researcher Taiz Azevedo Inoki Liarte, winner in the Physics category – Photo: Disclosure

Chemical sciences
Federal University of Fluminense Professor Vanessa Nascimento, winner of the Chemistry category, seeks to develop a new treatment for sporotrichosis, a fast-growing ringworm in Brazil that is mainly concentrated in Rio de Janeiro. Given the limitations of current treatments, they intend to create a single molecule that combines itraconazole with another chemical compound, naphthoquinone, and selenium, with the goal of creating a more effective and accessible drug with a low environmental impact. Using low-cost, high-yield materials, his research combines innovation, sustainability and social impact, helping to deliver national solutions to neglected diseases that mainly affect vulnerable populations.