The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the IUPAC 2027 Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Awards. The purpose of the awards program, originally initiated as part of the 2011 International Year of Chemistry celebrations, is to acknowledge and promote the work of women in chemistry/chemical engineering worldwide. In 2011, 23 women were honored during a ceremony held at the IUPAC Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 2 August 2011. At each of the subsequent IUPAC Congresses, 12 women received this recognition; in Istanbul in 2013, in Busan, Korea in 2015, in Sao Paulo in 2017, in Paris in 2019, virtually in 2021, in The Hague in 2023, and in Kuala Lumpur in 2025. A similar award ceremony will take place during the 2027 IUPAC Congress in July in Montreal, Canada.
A list of recipients of the award since its inception in 2011 may be found HERE (PDF)
Awardees will be selected based on excellence in basic or applied research, distinguished accomplishments in teaching or education, or demonstrated leadership or managerial excellence in the chemical sciences. The Awards Committee is particularly interested in nominees with a history of leadership and/or community service during their careers.
Nomination
Each nomination requires a primary nominator and two secondary nominators who must each write a letter of recommendation in support of the nomination. A CV of the nominee is required. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations should be received by 31 October 2026.
Make a nomination today!
ACCESS the Nomination Form HERE
Presentation
Awardees will be honored at the 2027 IUPAC World Chemistry Congress in Montreal, Canada during a celebration in their honor and a symposium. Each awardee will receive a certificate of recognition.
Sponsors
Starting this year, the Awards are sponsored by the IUPAC GWB and the GWB supporters!
The Global Women Breakfast is an annual networking event organized in February around the time of Feb 11 the International Day for Women and Girls in Science and which provides unique opportunities to celebrate gender equity and inclusion in science, to build cross-disciplinary and international connections, to expand professional networks, to mentor and support underrepresented groups in STEM, to learn from each other, and to raise awareness of the challenges women scientists face in academic, industry and government institutions. Since 2019, the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast has become an annual event.
Thanks to GWB sponsors for their extended support … they are are BAYER, ACS, RSC, RACI, DeGruyterBrill …
Interested in joining them? Find out more
For additional information on the IUPAC 2027 Distinguished Women In Chemistry Awards, contact Fabienne Meyers at <fabienne@iupac.org>.
Announcement to be published in the July 2026 issue of Chem Int.