Five Women Scientists from the Global South Honoured with the 2026 OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award for Sustainable Energy

OWSD is proud to announce the five winners of the 2026 OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists. This award recognizes five outstanding researchers from the Global South whose work is advancing sustainable energy solutions and transforming communities. Announced ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March), this year’s awards spotlight scientific leadership contributing directly to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7): ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all.

Through innovation, collaboration and a strong commitment to mentorship, the 2026 awardees are addressing urgent energy challenges in their regions—from solar-powered refrigeration systems for rural health centres, to green chemistry solutions that convert industrial waste into clean fuels, to advanced modelling tools that help governments plan inclusive energy systems.

2026 Awardees

• Cristina Dominguez (Guatemala) – Engineering Sciences
• Fadia Alhaj Hussien (Syria) – Chemical Sciences
• Duleeka Sandamali Gunarathne (Sri Lanka) – Engineering Sciences
• Tabitha Awuor Amollo (Kenya) – Physics
• Victoire Ghafi Kondi Akara (Togo) – Physics

Scientific Leadership for Community Impact

The awardees’ research spans multiple disciplines and regions, yet shares a common focus: strengthening energy access in lower-income and post-conflict contexts while building local scientific capacity.

• Cristina Dominguez, a civil engineer from Guatemala, has pioneered geospatial modelling tools to forecast rural energy demand and support evidence-based policymaking across Latin America. Her work bridges science, policy and community engagement, and includes extensive capacity-building for policymakers, researchers, women and youth.
• Fadia Alhaj Hussien, an organic chemist from Syria, specializes in green and sustainable chemistry. Her research transforms steel industry waste into catalysts for clean hydrogen and biofuel production, contributing to affordable and locally adapted energy solutions in a country recovering from conflict.
• Duleeka Sandamali Gunarathne, a chemical and process engineer from Sri Lanka, focuses on biomass thermochemical conversion technologies and bioenergy systems. In addition to pioneering practical clean energy solutions, she is deeply committed to mentoring young researchers and strengthening sustainable energy education.
• Tabitha Awuor Amollo, a physicist and materials scientist from Kenya, develops cost-effective, high-performance solar cells using thin-film technologies. Her innovations have translated into community-based applications, including solar-powered refrigeration systems for rural health centres, expanding reliable energy access for essential services.
• Victoire Ghafi Kondi Akara, a climate–energy scientist from Togo, works at the intersection of electricity-demand modelling, renewable energy integration and policy design. Her research supports national and regional energy planning across Africa and contributes to evidence-based decision-making for inclusive and sustainable energy systems.

A Longstanding Partnership for Visibility and Impact

The OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award has, since 2013, recognized 84 women scientists from more than 38 countries across the Global South. Each awardee receives a cash prize of USD 5,000 and a travel grant to attend a leading international conference, supporting professional development, international collaboration and increased visibility.

Past awardees have gone on to assume leadership roles in science and technology, engage with national policymakers, and receive further international recognition, including the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowships.

Luisa Echeverría King, President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) said

“These five outstanding scientists demonstrate how scientific leadership can drive meaningful responses to the energy challenges faced by their communities. Through their work, they are not only generating solutions, but also positioning themselves as role models and points of reference for other women across their regions, fostering pathways of leadership, collaboration, and long-term impact.”

To read the full press release, see here.

To see past OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awardees, see here.