Four Portuguese Researchers Honored with the L’Oréal Medals of Honor for Women in Science

In its 22nd edition, the L’Oréal Medals of Honor for Women in Science honored four Portuguese female researchers, recognizing the quality and scientific and social impact of their respective research projects.

The 2025 award recipients are Ana Filipa Cruz Esteves, Cláudia de Freitas Martins, Fátima Eduarda Oliveira Santos, and Inês Sofia Moutinho Alves. This year’s awards recognized projects with significant social and scientific impact that focus on concrete solutions to challenges in the areas of health and marine sustainability.

A scientific jury, chaired by Alexandre Quintanilha—a retired full professor and researcher in physics—and composed of Maria Reis, Miguel Miranda, Aurélio Campilho, Amadeu Soares, Alexandra Pinto Marques, Cláudia Cavadas, and Joana Azeredo, was responsible for selecting the winning projects from among several dozen applications.

At the awards ceremony, scheduled for September 16 at the Teatro da Luz in Lisbon, each researcher will receive an individual award of 15,000 euros, granted in the form of Studentship, intended to provide financial support for the development of her respective project.

The Medals of Honor are the result of a partnership between L’Oréal Portugal and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which has already provided support to more than 70 female researchers in Portugal. This initiative is part of the international L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science program, which has inspired dozens of local programs in various countries aimed at young female researchers.

The program aims to support the continuity of their scientific careers and raise awareness among decision-makers and society at large about the importance of a more inclusive science free of gender barriers.