International Astronomical Union’s STEM Ambassador Recognition award for Syksy Räsänen and Till Sawala

University of Helsinki cosmologist Syksy Räsänen and astrophysicist Till Sawala are among the six inaugural winners of the STEM Ambassador Recognition Award for 2024-2025 announced by the Women in Astronomy Working Group of the International Astronomical Union.

The annual award recognizes exceptional individuals who have made a significant contribution to advancing gender equity in astronomy. (See more, AASWomen Newsletter for September 12, 2025.)

“It is an honour to be recognised alongside four trailblazers for equality in our field”, Räsänen and Sawala comment on the award. “It is heartwarming to see the struggle against harassment and discrimination in academia recognised and taken seriously. However, the work is far from over. It must become a struggle that is not only carried by individuals, often against institutions, but a change in the institutions themselves - and in that respect, we still have a long way to go.”

International Astronomical Union.