Hong Kong's HKUST president Nancy Ip wins UNESCO life sciences prize, a second UNESCO honour

Nancy Yuk-yu Ip, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Morningside Professor of Life Science, received the 2026 UNESCO–Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, on November 6, in recognition of her pioneering contributions to neuroscience and Alzheimer's disease research. Ip is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

First UNESCO honour in 2004; now a second

Ip first received the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award in 2004, becoming the first Chinese scientist in the life sciences and the first scientist from Hong Kong to receive the honour. Her latest award makes her the first Hong Kong scientist to have received both prestigious UNESCO awards. UNESCO recognised Ip as an internationally renowned neuroscientist whose research has significantly advanced understanding of brain function and neurodegenerative diseases.

Three laureates share US$300,000

Now in its tenth edition, this year's prize is shared by three laureates: Ip, Professor Carlos Martín Montañés of Spain and Professor Adnane Remmal of Morocco. They jointly receive US$300,000 and each receives an Integración Tribal statuette created by Equatorial Guinean artist Leandro Mbomio Nsue.

(Sources: HKUST, UNESCO.)