Nine laureates of the 2026 L'Oréal-UNESCO France Awards have been recognized, with several having ties to the Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) and its member schools. Three of them are currently conducting research in laboratories at the École Polytechnique, a founding member school of IP Paris.
Johanna Loyer, from the Laboratory of Optics and Biosciences (LOB), is working on post-quantum cryptography. Sonia Mazelet, at the Center for Applied Mathematics (CMAP), is developing artificial intelligence methods for brain analysis. Kate Sorg, also at the LOB, studies atypical DNA structures in microorganisms living in extreme environments.
Six other laureates have connections to IP Paris member schools through their academic backgrounds. These include Justine Duval, Anne Josiane Kouam, Marie-Anne Carpine, Brune Massoulié, and Maëlys Solal, who studied or conducted their doctoral research at the École Polytechnique. Anne Gagneux, an alumna of the National School of Bridges and Roads (ENPC), is also among the recipients.
The laureates' work spans a wide range of scientific fields, including artificial intelligence, energy transition, mathematics, astrophysics, and neuroscience.
This award, supported by the L'Oréal Foundation in partnership with UNESCO and the Academy of Sciences, aims to support young female researchers in their careers and enhance the visibility of women in science.
