Awards celebrate women in STEM fields

The European Women in STEM Awards, held on October 22 in Paris, honored seven individuals for their achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The event recognized their contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation in these fields.

Young leader develops conversational robot

Lila Trepy, a winner of the Young STEM Leader Prize, created Joule, a conversational robot that answers questions about energy. Trepy was inspired by a robot she received from her uncle at age nine, which sparked her interest in programming and led her to compete in a European contest.

Nobel laureate honored for physics work

Anne L’Huillier, a 2023 Nobel Prize winner in physics, was named the European STEM Role Model of the Year. Her research in the 1980s showed that passing an infrared laser through a gas creates light harmonics, a discovery that has advanced the study of electron behavior using attosecond pulses.

Innovators in quantum and space technology

Pascale Senellart is using research on photons to develop quantum computing technologies with Quandela. Meanwhile, Hélène Huby is leading a major space transport project with The Exploration Company, and Maud Vinet is applying her semiconductor expertise at Quobly.

Health and medical tech advancements

Lara Gervaise, a Technology Prize winner, co-founded Virtuosis AI, which uses voice samples to analyze health indicators. Stéphanie Magazzeni, an Engineering Prize winner, has worked for over 25 years in medical technologies, particularly in ophthalmology, where her retinal imaging tools help diagnose eye diseases that can lead to blindness.

Math and data solutions for markets

Maria Scetta, a Mathematics & Data Prize winner, co-founded DeltaBlock, which develops algorithms to improve liquidity in stock markets, especially for smaller companies. Mamta Pommier, a Science Prize winner, is an astrophysicist who also advocates for women in astronomy through the "Women in Astronomy" group.

Gender gap in STEM education persists

According to the French government’s DEPP, in the 2025 school year, girls made up only 14.2% of students specializing in engineering and physical sciences in the final year of high school. The percentage was slightly higher in digital and computer science (15.5%) but significantly lower in mathematics (41.8%).

Young talent recognized for algorithmic work

Ema Nicole Gheorghe received a special mention from the jury for her algorithmic work. She won silver at the European Girls' Olympiad in Informatics 2025 and gold at the Romanian Informatics Olympiad. She also teaches algorithmics to other young people, especially girls.

Documentary highlights women's STEM journey

Women in STEM Europe aims to inspire a new generation through its seven laureates and 71 selected Talents 2026. The organization also launched a documentary project titled Hors Calculs, which follows women from middle school through their professional careers, aiming to challenge stereotypes and showcase the opportunities in science.