Post by NATO Science & Technology Organization (STO)

This week marked the finale of our WGS26 Challenge, bringing together exceptional talent, energy, and innovation under this year’s theme, “A Day Without…”. We are pleased to highlight the strong participation and achievements showcased throughout the competition, which celebrates women and girls in science within the NATO innovation ecosystem. This is a highly competitive programme, and the 12 finalists represented an outstanding group of young women working at the forefront of science and technology. During the finale, all 12 finalists delivered compelling presentations, demonstrating a broad range of innovative and impactful solutions. The standard of work was exceptionally high, reflecting both creativity and technical excellence. We were also honoured to be joined by distinguished panelists and judges, including the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Radmila Shekerinska, whose presence underscored the importance of this initiative. We extend our congratulations to all finalists, and especially to the three winners (in alphabetical order): 🏆 Yasmeen Bey 🏆 Ana Cooke 🏆 Cristina Yepes To all 12 finalists: your work set a high standard and reflects the strong emerging talent in this field. We see this as part of an ongoing effort to support innovation, inclusion, and scientific excellence. #WGS26 #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM #NATO #Innovation #STO