Beatriz Noheda receives first-ever WISE Award

The WISE network (Women in Science and Engineering) has presented the inaugural WISE Award to Professor Beatriz Noheda (Zernike Institute), former Scientific Director of CogniGron. The award celebrates colleagues whose leadership, creativity, and advocacy improve the participation, experience, and success of women in science and engineering at the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Noheda received the award during the September FSE Hot Topics session.

For the first edition, the call for nominations received an enthusiastic response, with 25 colleagues nominated for their efforts in promoting inclusion and gender balance. Among these strong nominations, Professor Noheda’s stood out for her sustained commitment to building an environment where excellence in science goes hand in hand with inclusivity.

Recognizing inclusive leadership

Founded in 2019 and inspired by similar initiatives abroad, WISE provides an informal forum for female early career researchers in STEM—PhDs, postdocs, and tenure-track staff—to connect, exchange experiences, and support each other’s careers. The idea for the WISE Award arose during the network’s monthly meetings, with the purpose of highlighting best practices and role models within the faculty.

Building community at CogniGron

As founding director of CogniGron, Noheda has established not only a world-class interdisciplinary research center, but also a supportive academic culture where equal opportunity and mentorship play central roles. She has worked actively to promote gender balance, guided female students and researchers in their careers, and demonstrated leadership based on openness, empathy, and collaboration.

The WISE Award was created to shine a light on colleagues who support women in STEM and strengthen our academic community. Professor Noheda embodies this mission—she is a brilliant scientist and a role model for inclusive leadership.-- WISE board

WISE Award

The introduction of the WISE Award marks an important step in increasing visibility for initiatives that raise awareness and contribute to a truly inclusive faculty. For Noheda, it recognizes not only scientific excellence but also the impact of creating academic spaces where women can thrive.

More information about WISE, its activities, and upcoming events can be found on the WISE website.