Professor Catherine Ngila, Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and Executive Director of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) was recently recognised as a recipient of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) 2025 Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Award. 
The recipients were announced in celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February 2025—a day dedicated to recognising achievements and advocating for full and equal access to science for women and girls.
Since its inception during the 2011 International Year of Chemistry, the IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Awards have celebrated excellence in scientific research, teaching, and leadership across the globe. This year, the awards spotlight twelve extraordinary women from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds—from Yu-Ju Chen in Taiwan to Vivian W.W. Yam in Hong Kong—each lauded not only for their research excellence but also for their commitment to education, mentorship, and community service.
This global celebration, which also aligns with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025, calls on us all to accelerate equity in science. IUPAC further amplified this message with the Global Women’s Breakfast networking event on 11 February 2025, themed “Accelerating Equity in Science.” This event provided a dynamic platform for networking, discussion, and collaboration, emphasising that when women thrive in science, society benefits as a whole.
The awards ceremony is set to take place at the IUPAC World Chemistry Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July 2025, where Professor Ngila and her fellow awardees will be celebrated for their pioneering work and commitment to excellence.
As we celebrate Professor Ngila’s well-deserved recognition, let us also embrace the broader call for gender equity in science
See full list of 2025 Awardees here