Womens associations by region and subject

Links to women's associations and resources for women in science and technology. Industrial and commercial resources are also included.

Austria * Denmark * Europe * France * Germany * Holland * Hungary * Norway * Russia * Scotland * Sweden * Switzerland * UK * Organisational associations * Rest of World

Countries and regions

Notice: These pages are being constantly updated.

If you wish to take material from this page, please get in touch.

Please be aware that although these groups are all concerned with the issue of why there are so few women in science, and how this might be improved, many of these groups work by a variety of different means and agendas. Some represent women, some act as a network, some provide resources and finance and some might even have a radical feminist agenda. These links are provided to help you find the group most appropriate for your needs, whether it be networking, mentoring, job opportunities or whatever. Inclusion in The Gateway does not imply that any are officially endorsed by Euroscience. If your national group does not meet your needs there may be a European group that does.

All attempts have been made to represent groups as accurately as possible, but often language barriers are insurmountable. If any group wishes their entry to be amended please get in touch. If you wish your group, or resource, to be added to this list please email me with the following details:

Group: xxx
Description: xxx
Website: xxx
Contact: xxx
Language: xxx

Natasha Loder, Euroscience

Austria

Group: Women in Physics in Austria
Contact: Monika Ritsch-Marte mmarte@gnu.uibk.ac.at

Denmark

Group: Network for Women in Physics * Netværk for Kvinder i Fysik (KIF)
Description: KIF is a section under the Danish Physical Society. It's a network for the exchange of information among women physicists, and aims to increase the visibility of women working in physics within Denmark, to increae the number of women studying the subject, and to exchange information on teaching methods to enhance the interest of women and girls in this subject. KIF publish a newsletter, organise colloquia and seminars.
Web site: This well designed web site contains: an events diary, several useful pages of links - in particular to Danish web sites with jobs.
Contact: Anja Andersen anja@stella.nbi.dk, Chairman, Women in Physics in Denmark
Language: English & Danish

Europe

Group: Women in Technology
Description: WITEC is a European network which develops transnational projects to encourage and support women in science, engineering and technology (SET). It has national coordinators in different member states who are committed to improving the situation for women in SET in their country, and members get a newsletter. Projects are:

National groups are:

Web site: The web site also contains information about all of WITEC's projects, how to get involved and a historical perspective to equal opportunities.
Languague: English - except for Swedish regional section.

Group: European Women's Lobby * Lobby Europeen des Femmes (LEF)
Description: The group started in 1990 in Brussells. It's objectives are to defend the interests of women in the European union, to promote chance and equal rights, to influence European policies, and to promote the co-operation between women in the EU and elsewhere.
Language: French

Group: European Women in Mathematics (EWM)
Description: EWM sponsors the participation of women to meetings and organizes workshops and conferences. Includes: Women's contribution to mathematics a bibliography.
Web site: Good web site with information about forthcoming meetings, details about EWM, and mathematical links.
Language: English

Group: European Women's Management Development network (EWMD)
Description: Created under the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) in 1984. It is an international network of men and women comprising 1250 members in 30 countries, representing 800 individuals. EWMD has made "significan contributions to management development", organising annual conferences on critical issues of the day. They aim to promote and develop the knowledge and performance of women in management; to encourage women into more powerful positions; and to work towards a more evenly balanced workforce. Members get a directory, newsletters, conferences, training and development activities, the international research symposium, the international conference and access to the latest facts and figures.
Contacts: Catherine Labio 100721.3631@compuserve.com

France

Group: Women in Technology (WITEC) French national group
Description: see WITEC under European groups
Language: Engish

Group: Women interassociation * Femmes inter associations
Description: Created in 1987 - a national network of women's associations.

Language: French
Group: Women in Physics * Femmes et Physique
Contact: Claudine Hermann claudine.hermann@polytechnique.fr

Group: Women in Mathematics * Femmes et mathématiques
Contact: fetm@ihp.jussieu.fr
Language: French

Group: French Association of Women Doctors * Association Française des Femmes Médecins
Description: Founded in 1923, the group represents France within the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA). It studies questions of general interest which come within the province of their profession, as well as the protection and promotion of women in the group. It also helps in the defense of professional interests.
Language: French

Group: French Association of Women Engineers * Association Française des Femmes Ingénieurs
Description: Created in 1929 (?), it aims to make the trade of engineering known to girls, their parents and teachers, it promotes the trade of the engineer to women within companies, and it represents women engineers to the authorities at national, european and international levels. Among other things there is a newsletter (Graffitti), and 14 regional groups. They also co-operate with other women's trade associations.
Language: French

Group: Women in Enterprise * Femmes et entreprises
Description: Works with women to help them create their own companies - thereby helping to fight against unemployment of women.
Language: French

Group: Female Professional Union * Union Professionnelle Féminine (UPF )
Language: French

Group: SOS Sexism * SOS Sexisme
Description: Fights against all forms of sexism in France and the world.
Language: French

Germany

Group: Women in Technology (WITEC), German national group
Description: Regional group of the pan-European WITEC organisation (also see entry under 'Europe'). WITEC projects in Germany are within information exchange, statistics, policies and 'action projects'. They collaborate closely with German organisationas and groups working on equal opportunities - especially in science and technology. There is no regional web site, but contact details are available at the above link.
Language: English

Group: Women in Physics * Frauen in der physik
Description: A page for women physicists in Germany resulting from a physics meeting in Goettingen in 1995. You will find lots of useful networking information, such as contact details for electronic mailing lists. Included are homepages for women physicists. Links to useful resources such as study and employment, as well as other resources for physicists. Meetings.

What is really useful is the list of mailing lists available:

Women in physics - 100 German physicists

Finut l, women in natural science and technique.

Femtec l, this list is to actually treat technical questions in connection with the Internet

Woman inform, mailing list for women in computer science and mathematics

Language: German

Group: German Association of Women Engineers * Deutscher Ingenieurinnen Bund
Description: This 10 year old registered association provides a female contrast to other German engineering associations. Dib wants an increase in the proportion of women in technical occupations and the promotion of interdisciplinary exchange. It has a seminar program, a circular and exchange groups. There are regional groups in twenty cities: Aachen, Berlin, Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Hagen, Hamburg, Hanover, Kassel, Nuernberg Munich, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden and Bremen.
Language: German

Group: Women in Science and Technology * Frauen in Naturwissenschaft und Technik (NUT)
Description: This registered association was formed in 1988 following a national congress of women scientists and engineers in Germany. Among many things this group wishes: to cooperate to improve their professional situation, to represent the interests of women in science and technology in public affairs, and to raise awareness and analyse the consequences for society.
Web site: Lots of useful information about the association, meetings, mailing lists, books the association publishes, and links.
Language: German (summary page in English)

Group: Womens pages for Geographers * Eine Frauenseite für Geograph
Description: Web pages for women geographers
Language: German

Misc:

German email lists: Women in physics - 100 German physicists; Finut l, women in science and technology; Femtec l, this list is to actually treat technical questions in connection with the Internet; Woman inform, mailing list for women in computer science and mathematics

Biofrauen mailing list - women in biological sciences

Geogfem - english mailing list for women in geography

Summer university for women in science and technology - (German)

Frauenwissen in Datenbanken: Description: I can't quite figure this one out! It looks like it is a place to search for women experts in all sorts of fields - if anyone can let me know what this is all about I'd be grateful. Language: German

Holland

Group: Women in Technology (WITEC) Nederlands national group
Description: see WITEC under European groups
Language: Engish

Group: Mama Cash Foundation Fund
Description: Gives financial support to women's companies and cultural projects. Supplies bank guarantees, gives loans and subsidies to cultural projects, and subsidises projects and groups of women in the Third World.
Website: Full details of the group, and how to apply for financial assistance.
Contact: Mama Cash Foundation Fund, Fax: +31-20-68 34 647
Language: English

Misc:

Publications about Holland:

1. Women Studying Science and Technology: How Do They Succeed?
by Karin Overdilk. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. This paper looks at the social behaviour of 169 students enrolling in 1969. Their findings suggest that the process of social integration develops in a different way for male and female students, and between students and staff. Women especially respond to social experiences, and successful students create a social network.
2. Barriers in the careers of young women engineers and how to overcome them, by Hanneke de Bruin. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. A report on a research project on the careers of young Dutch women engineers in comparison with male engineers. Women as a group earn less and do not hold management positions as frequently, they also work more often in the public sector offering fewer career chances, and are more often employed in part-time work. Almost no barriers were found as a result of sexual harassment. The less experienced women are - the more positive they are about the chances they have.

Hungary

Misc:

Publications about Hungary:

1. Women in the Hungarian labour market, by Katalin Koncz. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996.

Norway

Group: Women in Technology (WITEC) Norway national group
Description: see WITEC under European groups
Language: English

Group: Women in physics in Norway
Contact: Berit.Sundby.Avset@ecy.sintef.no, Chairman

Group: Nettverk for kvinner i fysikk, Norway
Contact: Synnove Irgens-Jensen synnove.irgens-jensen@nfr.no

Scotland

Group: Edinburgh Women's Science Forum
Description: voluntary organisation for women with an interest in science, men welcome as associate members. It aims to promote in Edinburgh an interest, understanding and participation in science, and to act as a source of information and education about the role of women in science.
Web site: events, report, links
Language: English

Sweden

Group: Women in Technology (WITEC) Swedish national group
Description: see WITEC under European groups
Language: English

Misc:

Publications about Sweden:

1. Gender in Engineering Education, by Gerd Brandell. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. A project called gender in engineering education started in 91/2 in Lule University, attempting to address gender imbalances in engineering education within the educational system itself. Survey fndings in all universities include, that of four fields of engineering only in chemical engineering are women well represented. In Lule women tend to avoid classical courses (mechanical and electrical engineering), and take up relatively new programs. Female students attach great importance to broad competence for engineers, whilst for male students it is deep specialisation.

2. What does the word technology mean? To live one's longing or to make use of them? by Maria Vden. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. Campaigns to attract girls into traditionally male education have been going for 20 years. Since then the proportion of female engineering students has increased, and has awareness of women's special needs and potenial. The paper is a report into a pilot study on languages and cultures of technology in Swedish women.

Switzerland

Group: Women in Physics in Switzerland
Contact: Katharina von Salis katharin@erdw.ethz.ch

United Kingdom

Group: Women in Technology (WITEC) UK national group
Description: see WITEC under European groups
Language: English

Group: The Association for Women in Science and Engineering (AWISE)
Description: A national group aiming to advance the participation of girls and women in science and engineering and in the formulation of policy. They aim to act as a forum, network for mutual support, information centre and resource, as well as a collective voice for women in science and engineering. Branches: London, Cambridge, Glaxo-Wellcome, Heart of England, Northeast, Oxford, Southwest, Sussex, Wessex.
Web site: Although the site is under construction you will find details of the origins of AWISE, their activities, their branches, why AWISE is needed, their quarterly journal Forum, membership details, recruitment information, and news.
Language: English

Group: Royal Society of Chemistry - Women Chemists Committee
Description: Information available on Women Chemists Network, newsletter, symposia, resources, library

Group: Women in Computing
Description: A point of contact and support for women in computing, an information base, and a pressure group concerned with gender discrimination within computing.
Web site: Structure, activities, membership details
Language: English

Group: Women in Physics
Contact: wiphys@aps.org
Mailing list: Tara McLoughlin - WIPHYS Moderator, tara@aps.org

Group: Women into Science and Engineering (WISE)
Description: Formed in 1984, this is a campaign launched by the Engineering Council and the Equal Opportunities Commission to encourage more girls and women to consider careers in science and engineering, encompassing areas such as the environment, medicine, communications and aeronautics.
Contact: Marie-Noelle Barton, Manager of WISE-Campaign, fax: ++44-171-240.7891

Group: Office of Science and Technology, Women's Development Unit
Description: part of the government's Department of Trade and Industry.
Contact: Dr Caroline Roberts, fax: ++44-171-215.0054

And more to come:

Women in Higher Education Network
Women in Biology Working Group
Women in Geography Study Group
National Council of Women in Great Britain
Gender and Mathematics Association
Women in Management

UK resources:

Tapping the talent -- "An agenda for action for business to increase the talent available to them by encouraging more young women into science, engineering and technology."
Bibliographic guide to the history of women in science, health, and technology
British Council--social development and gender: frequently asked questions
Government's development unit for women in SET
Press release --Cabinet office (OPSS) Press office OPSS 200/95 3 July 1995 Encouraging women in science
WISET -- database of UK women's organisations

Publications about UK:

1. Girl's use of spatial preceptors and visual segmentation in the solution of visually orientated problems, by Stephen Sproule. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. This paper looks at facets of girls' visual understanding that may be useful to teachers in classroom practice.

2. Women in construction, by Barbara Bagilhole et al. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. Disscusses women's careers in construction - a specific sector of science and technology. Construction companies have generally poor records as equal opportunities employers, but there are encouraging UK initiatives which aim to enhance the extent and quality of women's careers in this industry.

3. Working towards equality in the year 2000, by Sue Williams et al. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. Given that it is estimated that by the year 2000 80% of jobs in the UK will involve the use of IT concern has been expressed that there is a decrease of women entering IT related courses. A project was formed to promote the understanding and awareness of IT opportunities amongst girls, most girls came to the project with a clouded image of IT - some admitting that it was boring. Although the project succeeded in raising awareness of girls, schools and parents - the project did not achieve positive results in influencing the direction girls were taking, leading the authors to speculate that the target age needed to be lowered.

4. Pedagogic issues in the access of women to bulding higher education, by Angela Srivastava. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. The focus of this research is access of women to construction & building higher education, using traditional and feminist theoretical perspectives. Find that the gendered nature of construction "provides a masculine disciplinary culture, affecting course content and delivery and the nature of rescruitment".

5. A different class of learning, by Jillian Spink. Paper from the Gender and Science and Technology Association international meeting in Ahmedabad, India, 1996. A report about a project to encourage female students into post 16 education in a disadvantaged urban area in the UK.

Grants & awards
The Daphne Jackson Memorial Fellowships Trust

--fellowships for scientists and engineers wanting to return after a career break for family reasons

Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award

--"The aim of the Award is to encourage more high calibre women to embark upon an exciting career in electro

Funding organisations --organisations funding women

Organisational associations

Group: Women of NASA
Description: Developed to encourage more young women to pursue careers in math, science, and technology. Site contains: profiles, a day in the life, chats, teaching tips and resources.
Language: English
Country: US only (?)

Group: AWISE Glaxo-Wellcome
Language: English
Country: UK Only

Rest of World

Women in Technology International - mostly US group. Includes magazine.

Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS)- an independent, non-profit and non-governmental body based at the offices of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy.

South African Women in Science and Engineering
Gender Issues in Technology - a gopher collection at the Ontario Institute for Studies is Education (Toronto)

IEEE Women in Engineering Listservs in Women/Science/Technolgy - maintained by Joan Korenman.

Copyright: The work on this page is the copyright of Euroscience, except for flags and logos. Flags from http://fotw.digibel.be/flags. Denmark - Edward Mooney; Germany, Netherlands, France, Austria, Hungary - Mark Sensen. United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway - Zeljko Heimer.