A great recognition for the research conducted at EPOC: Kadidiatou Touré, PhD student at the University of Bordeaux in the EPOC laboratory, is one of 35 young scientists distinguished by the 20th L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize for Women and Science France.

©Kadidiatou Touré

Kadidiatou’s research focuses on natural hydrogen, a form of hydrogen produced naturally deep within the Earth.

Her work aims to gain a better understanding of how this hydrogen forms, circulates and accumulates underground, in order to identify the conditions under which it might be present in quantities that can be exploited.

Already used in several industrial and energy sectors, hydrogen could play a role in the transition to low-carbon energy systems. Natural hydrogen is therefore an emerging field of research, the potential of which has yet to be fully characterised.

For Kadidiatou, this research has very personal roots.

Born in Bamako, Mali, she discovered as a teenager the existence of a natural hydrogen deposit located near her hometown. This discovery sparked her curiosity and helped steer her towards Earth sciences.

After studying geology in Morocco and then at Aix-Marseille University, she is now continuing her scientific career at the University of Bordeaux, within the EPOC laboratory.

Her journey also illustrates the importance of making science accessible and showing that scientific careers are open to everyone.

“Never think that certain disciplines aren’t for you.”

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Prize is organised by the L’Oréal Foundation and the French Academy of Sciences. The 35 laureates of this 20th edition were selected from over 800 applications.

EPOC Information – September 2026