The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Monday that Professor Wang Xiaoyun from Tsinghua University has been named one of the five laureates of the 2025 L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.
Professor Wang has been recognized for her groundbreaking work in cryptography and cryptographic mathematics, fields crucial for the security of data communication and storage. Her research exposed fundamental flaws in widely used hash functions within communication protocols, paving the way for the development of new standards in data encryption.
“Her breakthrough work showed essential flaws on hash functions, which are widely used in communication protocols and led to the invention of new hash function standards,” UNESCO stated in a press release. “The visibility of her revolutionary work has encouraged many female students to pursue a research career in mathematics and network security.”
Joining Professor Wang in receiving this prestigious award are Professor Priscilla Baker from South Africa, Professor Claudia Felser from Germany, Professor Maria Teresa Dova from Argentina, and Professor Barbara Finlayson-Pitts from the United States. Each has been honored for outstanding contributions in their respective scientific fields and for inspiring women and girls worldwide.
This year’s laureates were selected from a pool of 466 nominees through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an independent jury. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 12 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
