W+CS Award

In the Concentrated Solar sector, awards and recognition play a crucial role in highlighting groundbreaking work and inspiring future generations. However, we have observed that, as in other fields, many of these honors remain predominantly awarded to men, leaving the exceptional contributions of women in our field invisible.

Starting in 2026, we are thrilled to propose a new initiative aimed at changing this narrative: the Women+ in CS Award.

This award is designed not only to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women and underrepresented gender identities in Concentrated Solar, but also to actively support their career advancement. 

Our goal is to improve the visibility of their technical skills while also fostering their potential for leadership and providing a spotlight for those showcasing leadership initiative essential qualities that drive teams and projects to success.

Award Criteria

The award is open to women and underrepresented gender identities in the CS sector (cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and people who may be questioning their gender), of all ages and career levels.

Nominees are expected to distinguish themselves across the following areas:

  1. Technical Skills & Innovation
    • Clear contributions in research, engineering, or innovative projects — such as new ideas, problem-solving, or successful project delivery.
    • Industry influence: The extent to which the candidate’s work contributes to the advancement or sustainability of CST technologies.
  2. Leadership & Community Engagement
    • We value leadership in all its forms, whether through formal management, informal mentorship, or proactive initiative.
    • Examples of guiding or supporting others, mentoring, leading teams, or positively influencing their community or organization.
  3. Collaboration
    • Ability to build partnerships, and contribute to an inclusive and cooperative environment.
  4. Advocacy & Positive Impact
    • Efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the CST sector, or serving as a role model who encourages more women to join and stay in the field.

How to nominate?

The nomination process is simple and direct. We want to make it easy for outstanding candidates to be seen.

  • There are two pathways:
    • Self-Nomination: We strongly encourage women and underrepresented gender identities to put themselves forward. This is your opportunity to own your narrative and achievements.
    • Peer/Colleague Nomination: Do you know a deserving woman or person of underrepresented gender identity in CS? Please nominate them to ensure their work gets the recognition it deserves.
  • Please submit nominations by email to: cspwomen@gmail.com
  • Required Submission Materials
    • Subject Line: “Nomination for Women+ in CS Award: [Candidate’s Name]”
    • Candidate’s Name & Contact Information
    • Nominator’s Name & Contact Information (if not a self-nomination)
    • Motivation Letter: A concise letter (max 500 words) explaining why the candidate deserves this award. Please highlight their achievements specific to the award criteria above.
    • Candidate’s CV and LinkedIn Profile: attach the candidate’s CV and provide a direct link to their LinkedIn profile for reference (if available).

Nomination deadline for 2026 edition: June 30, 2026

Why participate?

The winner will receive:

  • An invitation to this year’s SolarPACES conference (full registration fee covered, courtesy of SolarPACES organisation)
  • An Award Certificate presented during the award ceremony at this year’s SolarPACES conference
  • Announcements on our website and other media for wide dissemination

Let’s work together to ensure the remarkable women and underrepresented gender identities driving innovation and leadership receive the recognition they deserve. We look forward to receiving your nominations. – The W+CS award committee

Why is this necessary?

Here are some scientific references on the gender gap: