Sony Group Corp. and Nature magazine recently collaborated to establish a prestigious award, the "Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature,” which celebrates and acknowledges the contributions of outstanding female researchers in the technology sector. The initiative, announced on March 6, seeks to support and elevate women who are actively engaged in research and engineering, areas traditionally dominated by male professionals. Magdalena Skipper, the first female editor-in-chief at Nature, emphasized the importance of having more women in research and engineering roles, stating that these women often remain unrecognized without platforms like this award.
The joint effort between the Japanese entertainment and electronics giant Sony and the renowned British science journal Nature aims to showcase the achievements of female researchers who have made significant contributions in fields that have a significant male majority. The award's primary goal is to address the gender disparity in technology-related professions, with women currently representing only around 30% of all professional researchers and less than 20% in the technology sector. The partners intend to recognize and support emerging women researchers and engineers, fostering diversity and inclusion within these domains.
As part of the award, the first three winners, to be announced early next year, will each receive a substantial amount of research funds - $250,000 (37.5 million yen) - to further their work and contributions in their respective fields. The selection process for the winners is focused on researchers in mathematics, science, and engineering who received their undergraduate degrees less than 25 years ago. Additionally, at least one winner will be early in their career, having earned their undergraduate degree less than 15 years ago, highlighting a commitment to nurturing talent at different stages of professional development.