The United States announced today the second annual ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women supported by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with UL.

By 2035, ASEAN’s energy needs are projected to more than double to meet the region’s targeted economic growth. Therefore, this year’s prize is focused on sustainable energy research and will be awarded to an innovative, early-career woman scientist from the ASEAN region. This scientist will receive a $25,000 award and be recognized during the 2016 ASEAN ministerial meeting on science and technology.

“When President Jokowi met with President Obama in the U.S. this past October, the two presidents committed to expand their partnership on energy development,” said USAID Mission Director Andrew Sisson. “USAID is proud to support bright Indonesian scientists in their effort to create clean energy solutions. We hope that through this prize, we are able to source a new innovation that will help Indonesia and other ASEAN member states meet growing energy demands, improve energy access, and reduce energy-sector greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the global threat posed by climate change.”

Any female citizen and resident of an ASEAN member state with a Ph.D. whose research focuses on the topic area and who is less than 40 years of age can self-nominate or be nominated for the prize. Selection criteria include scientific excellence and creativity, regional relevance and inspiration and leadership. Full application details and eligibility requirements can be found at: http://go.usa.gov/cUhrW. 

Applications and nominations will be accepted from January 25 to April 1, 2016. For additional information, please contact: scienceprizeforwomen@gmail.com.