Justine Duval, a doctoral student at the University Grenoble-Alpes and researcher at the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), received the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Award on Wednesday, October 7. The award includes a grant of 15,000 euros to support her research on renewable energies and energy justice. Established in 2007 by the L’Oréal Foundation in partnership with the Academy of Sciences and the French National Commission for UNESCO, the award honors young researchers at a critical point in their careers. The 35 winners of the 2026 edition will join a global network of more than 5,000 female scientists from over 140 countries. In addition to the grant, recipients receive a scholarship and a leadership training program. The initiative also aims to increase the visibility of women in science. During an interview with BFM on Thursday, Duval expressed her gratitude for the award, calling it "a privilege to have this award, after having been selected among several hundred applications." She explained that the recognition will allow her to "spend time abroad in order to develop these researches." The award acknowledges her work on renewable energies, with Duval emphasizing her research on the fair distribution of solar panels and wind turbines around the world. She noted that while countries in the Global South consume less electricity than those in the North, "it is not a reason to say that countries in the North should appropriate resources and develop low-carbon technologies only for themselves." Duval stressed the importance of ensuring sufficient access to electricity for all people on the planet. "In this logic of justice, one must then ask: how are renewable energies allocated between countries?" she said. Duval explained that the award is particularly meaningful to her because it highlights the role of women in scientific research. She noted that, on average, only one third of researchers worldwide are women, indicating a lack of gender parity. There are also significant differences across scientific fields. Duval argued that science would benefit greatly from the diversity of perspectives that female researchers bring. She pointed out that excluding women from research leads to biases in the selection of research questions and the interpretation of results. She recalled that she had been lucky in her career but also faced stereotypes during her schooling. According to her, many "young girls can give up on going into science based on these biases." Duval’s experience reflects broader challenges in the scientific community regarding gender representation. While progress has been made, disparities remain, and initiatives like the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Award aim to address these issues by supporting and recognizing female researchers. Duval’s work not only advances the field of renewable energy but also contributes to a more equitable and inclusive scientific landscape.