Water, science, and youth come together at the University of Montpellier for the future
The UNESCO International Water Center ICIREWARD and the Groupama Méditerranée Water Foundation are joining forces to launch the "Aqua Scientia" award. Organized for the first time this year and awarded every two years, this prize aims to honor a male and female researcher who have written doctoral theses whose scientific work advances knowledge in the field of freshwater.
A lasting partnership dedicated to freshwater
Freshwater on land (rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater) is a vital but increasingly fragile resource. It provides most of our drinking water, regulates ecosystems, is home to unique biodiversity, and is essential to all activities, yet it can also be devastating when there is too much of it (devastating floods) or too little (droughts).
Better understanding and managing this resource is a priority issue. With this in mind, the UNESCO International Water Center ICIREWARD, a leading research and training center, and the Groupama Mediterranean Water Foundation, committed to water conservation in the Mediterranean region, are jointly launching the Aqua Scientia Prize, which aims to encourage young researchers working on this resource.
This award will recognize excellence, innovation, and scientific impact in applied research in areas related to continental freshwater resources, in terms of quantity, management, sharing, and/or quality, with application in at least one of the 14 Mediterranean departments covered by the Groupama Mediterranean Water Foundation*.
* Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Aude, Bouches-du-Rhône, Southern Corsica, Drôme, Gard, Northern Corsica, Hautes-Alpes, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales, Var, Vaucluse.
Given the complexity of water-related challenges, both partners will pay particular attention to thesis work that takes a multi-, inter-, or transdisciplinary approach, especially those that promote collaboration between scientists, field workers, and public decision-makers.
Two winners, one message: science serving tomorrow
The Aqua Scientia Prize is open to holders of a doctoral degree who defended their thesis at a French university between January1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.A jury of experts (5 to 7 members) will select two winners—one woman and one man—who will each receive €5,000 to encourage them to continue their work. Beyond the reward, this prize highlights young scientists and their role in ecological transition and knowledge sharing.
"Scientific excellence only makes sense if it is shared. The Aqua Scientia Prize recognizes research that advances knowledge and addresses global and local water-related issues,"says Éric Servat, Director of the UNESCO International Water Center ICIREWARD.
For Thierry Bonnery, president of the Groupama Méditerranée Water Foundation, "This award illustrates the strength of collective action. It is by combining our strengths and expertise that we will be able to innovate and preserve this essential resource. Rewarding young talent is an investment in a sustainable future."
Schedule and outlook
For this first edition, applications are open from October 23, 2025, to February 22, 2026. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Montpellier in July 2026. All information (rules, terms and conditions, and application form) is available on the websites of the UNESCO International Water Centre ICIREWARD and the Groupama Méditerranée Water Foundation.
This award is part of the ongoing partnership between the two organizations, notably through the Water Foundation's support for the Water4Future Hackathon for students organized by the UNESCO International Centre for Water ICIREWARD, symbolizing a shared commitment to stimulating innovation and research in the field of freshwater.