For more than two decades, the Schlumberger Foundation's Faculty for the Future programme has supported women scientists and engineers from emerging and developing economies in pursuing advanced research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while strengthening their leadership capabilities. The Foundation stated that the achievements of its Fellows now extend well beyond individual academic success, with researchers across countries, disciplines and generations applying advanced scientific and engineering knowledge to develop breakthrough solutions, create opportunities, strengthen communities and generate meaningful change across people and institutions.
The Faculty for the Future Impact Prize has been established to recognise proven initiatives and accelerate their next stage of development through financial support, greater visibility and stronger connections within the global fellowship, as well as the wider scientific and business communities. The programme is designed to help recipients expand the reach of their work and deepen its long-term impact.
The 2026 edition of the Impact Prize recognises initiatives in three major categories: Educational Outreach, Technology Innovation and Social Impact.
Capella Festa, President of the Schlumberger Foundation, said the Faculty for the Future programme began by investing in the education and potential of exceptional women scientists and engineers. She stated that the continued achievements of Fellows demonstrate how that investment has multiplied over time as they create opportunities for others, strengthen institutions and apply their expertise to address urgent challenges facing their communities. She added that the Impact Prize recognises this leadership, connects it across the global fellowship and helps extend its influence even further.
The nine recipients of the 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize are Dr. Darshana Joshi for VigyanShaala: STEM Access for Women and Rural Communities in India; Dr. Angela Tabiri for The Mathsqueen National STEAM Circuit; Dr. Novalia Pishesha for Future Southeast Asian Scientist (FSAS); Dr. Chao Mbogo for Mentorship Infrastructure for Holistic Technologists; Dr. Hifza Rasheed for Empowering Women and Communities with Climate-Resilient Water; Dr. Edu Inam for Scaling a Research Equipment Database for Equitable Access in Nigeria; Professor Bridget Bannerman for Empowering African Women to Eliminate Cervical Cancer; Dr. Tonthoza Uganja for Profitable Agroforestry for Smallholder Farmers in Malawi; and Dr. Zita Nodjikouambaye for Community-Based Screening for Cervical and Breast Cancer in Chad.
The Foundation stated that the winners were selected from 156 applications representing 61 countries. The recognised initiatives reflect the diversity of work being undertaken by Faculty for the Future Fellows through science and engineering, including expanding access to STEM education, improving research infrastructure and healthcare, and developing practical solutions for water security, agriculture and climate resilience.
The 2026 Impact Prize marks a new chapter for the Faculty for the Future programme. Building on more than two decades of support for advanced STEM education, the initiative strengthens a global fellowship where the scientific and engineering leadership of Fellows is recognised, connected and amplified.
The Schlumberger Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation established by SLB in 1954 with a mission to support education and promote excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. The Faculty for the Future programme, launched in 2004, supports women scientists and engineers from emerging and developing economies pursuing doctoral and postdoctoral STEM research at leading institutions worldwide. In 2026, the programme reached the milestone of funding 1,000 Fellows globally, highlighting its growing contribution to advancing scientific leadership and expanding opportunities for women in STEM across the world.
About The Author
Comment List