Core Points - The "Scientific Exploration Award" 2025 winners list was announced, featuring 50 young scientists who will receive a total of 3 million RMB over five years [1] - The award aims to encourage young scientists and promote original research, with a notable increase in the number of young awardees this year [3][4] Group 1: Award Overview - The award includes 13 young scientists, a significant increase from 7 last year, with 6 being born in the 1990s [4] - The award has a "New Star Quota" for young scientists, which has effectively attracted more young applicants [5][6] - A total of 1238 applications were received this year, with 261 young scientists applying, representing 21% of total applications, nearly doubling from 11% last year [6] Group 2: Gender Representation - This year, 9 female scientists received the award, the highest number in the award's history, making up 18% of the winners [7][8] - The age threshold for female scientists is higher than for males, which is explained by considerations related to childbirth and career development [4][8] Group 3: Research Focus and Evaluation - The award emphasizes originality in basic research, evaluating candidates based on the potential impact and originality of their future research plans [8] - The selection process aims to identify the most outstanding young scientists, regardless of their institutional affiliations, focusing solely on academic merit [9]