2025 ULRI ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women: National Finalists Revealed
On September 15, 2025, the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI) announced the national finalists for the ULRI ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women. This initiative, in collaboration with the US-ASEAN Business Council, Google, and UL Research Institutes, aims to spotlight women’s role in advancing science and technology within the ASEAN region.
Competition Overview
The theme for this year’s competition is “Generative AI for Smart Water Management.” It seeks to showcase how women scientists in ASEAN are leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle pressing water-related issues, such as:
- Enhancing water quality
- Promoting water efficiency
- Creating resilient solutions for climate-vulnerable communities
Categories and Finalists
Finalists for the competition are categorized into two groups based on their career stages:
Mid-Career Scientist Category (45 years and younger)
- Dr. Norazanita Shamsuddin (Brunei Darussalam)
- Dr. Ruri Prihatini (Indonesia)
- Dr. Norasikin Thamrin (Malaysia)
- Dr. Mayzonee Ligaray (Philippines)
- Dr. Zhenzhen Yan (Singapore)
- Dr. Pattana Tor-ngern (Thailand)
Senior Scientist Category (46 years and older)
- Dr. Wida Susanty Haji Suhaili (Brunei Darussalam)
- Dr. Rozalina Zakaria (Malaysia)
- Dr. Rhonalyn Macalalad (Philippines)
- Dr. Chontisa Sukkasem (Thailand)
Significance of the Science Prize for Women
This annual competition, now in its eleventh year, aims to enhance science, technology, and innovation capacity in ASEAN while promoting women’s involvement in STEM fields. It recognizes the essential contributions women scientists make to innovation and community impact throughout the region.
Quotes from Leaders
Dr. Boediastoeti Ontowirjo, Chair of ASEAN COSTI 2025, expressed her pride in the finalists: “COSTI is proud to announce the national finalists for the Science Prize for Women 2025. This year’s theme reflects ASEAN’s determination to harness cutting-edge technologies to address pressing regional challenges.”
Chris Cramer, Chief Research Officer at UL Research Institutes, highlighted the initiative’s importance: “This year’s theme underscores how cutting-edge science and technology can be harnessed to address urgent environmental challenges and strengthen climate resilience.”
Amb. (ret.) Brian McFeeters, Interim President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, praised the finalists’ impactful research, noting, “The Science Prize for Women reflects a spirit of innovation that empowers women scientists to develop solutions for sustainable growth in the region.”
Next Steps in the Competition
Each national finalist will prepare a three-minute video presenting their research and its community impact. An esteemed panel of judges from ULRI, ULSE, USABC, and the ASEAN Secretariat will review these submissions to select the regional finalists in each category. In October 2025, the finalists will present their research in Bangkok, where winners will be announced.
For more information, you can reach out to scienceprize4women@gmail.com.
