Projects and Links

We present some national organisations, networks and links of partner countries (UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland ) and international projects and links (USA, Canada).

National Organisations and Networks of Partner countries

A list of Europe-wide networks is available from the Women in Science sector of the European Commission's website. The network list is available from "Directory of Networks of Women Scientists". A document discussing the outcomes of a survey for setting up a European women scientist platform is available from "Study on Networks of Women Scientists".

WiTEC (Women in Science, Engineering and Technology) WiTEC is a European Network with co-ordinators in twelve countries and works to promote women at all stages of SET education and employment. The network covers UK, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, Greece, Spain, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. However, the UK and German web sites no longer seem to be alive or active.

In United Kingdom

Women@cl Provides local, national and international activities for women engaged in computing research and academic leadership. Only 1 in 4 computing PhDs, 1 in 8 computing academic staff and 1 in 20 computing professors are females yet 33% of academic women, as opposed to 22% of men, aspire to leadership positions.
Department of Trade and Industry Promoting SET for Women Unit Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) portal for the UK government.
Association for Women in Science & Engineering (AWiSE) AWiSE is a national organisation with a central office in London and branches in the regions. AWiSE promotes SET for girls and women and covers all the sciences and technologies across a range of levels.
African-Caribbean Network for Science & Technology The African-Caribbean Network for Science & Technology is an educational charity with the singular objective to advance the educational achievements and career aspirations of Black youth within the fields of Science, Mathematics & Technology, by engendering the ethos that the pursuit of such qualifications and careers can be fun, empowering and achievable.
The Daphne Jackson Trust The Daphne Jackson Trust enables scientists, engineers and IT specialists to return to work after career breaks. The Trust is the foremost women returner's scheme in the UK.
The Fawcett Society The Society works for improvement in all areas of women's lives and has a strong network of supporters and local groups. They are also an important lobbying group for policy makers.
PORTIA-WEB Portia and the PortiaWeb Project acts as a gateway to all aspects of education and employment in SET.
UK Resource Centre for Women in SETUK Resource Centre for Women in Set. This is the official website funded by the Department of Trade and Industry as part of their Strategy for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET). The website is a comprehensive dynamic resource for all women in SET, for employers, for Professional and Academic Institutions, for Sector Skills Councils and anyone who is concerned with the position of women in SET, and includes new and statistics, expert women's database, mentoring information, case studies, courses, links and resources including funding and grants.
Women's Engineering SocietyWES is the major UK network for promoting the education, training and practice of engineering among women. It provides regional and university groups, an annual conference and membership opportunities, as well as expert speakers and for schools and expert advice for policy makers.
Women into Science and Engineering (WISE)WISE aims to promote science, engineering and technology as valuable and interesting career choices among girls and women, helping them to progress in their careers and ensuring their retention in the profession. See also WISE Northern Ireland, WISE in Wales and WISE Scotland.
SETNETThe Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics Network (SETNET) is a UK-wide charity that promotes Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) awareness, especially among young people. SETNET aims to help ensure there is a flow of well-motivated, high quality people going from schools into Science Technology Engineering and Maths careers and prepare young people for the technological world they live in
Women Returners Network WRN (The Women Returners' Network) in association with the Grow Trust is the national charity which helps women return to work after a career break.
Everywoman UK online network and resource provider for women business owners.
Know and Network (KAN) project The 12 month Know and Network (KAN) project is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). The KAN team is based at Salford Business School (University of Salford) and is conducting research into women's business opportunities and advancement. They are working to address the under representation of women in IT which results in a lack of access to mentoring and support. They encourage women to get involved with KAN and meet others from the IT industry; They invite women in IT to use the KAN network to construct their professional identities and networks online. See also the KAN social networking (blogs and blogging) survey.

In Belgium

Belgian Women in Science (BeWiSe)BeWiSe is dedicated to achieving the equal and full participation of women in all scientific disciplines and at all levels.

In Germany

Women in the Information Society and in TechnologyThis Centre of Excellence ties together nationwide equal opportunities measures and aims to raise the proportion of women in IT and engineering. The website is available in German and partly in English.
Centre of Excellence – Women and Science (CEWS) The CEWS is a nationwide initiative with an international outlook. It disseminates information and provides advice to scientific and political institutions on equal opportunities in science and research. The website is available in German.
FiF Contact Point for Women in EU ResearchThe FiF Contact Point supports women scientists involved in European research activities. The site is available in German.
Women in Science and Technology Association (NUT)The NUT covers areas including feminist critiques of science, women’s networks, as well as science and technology policy. Information is available in German and there is an introduction in English.
MentorinnenNetzwerk This network is dedicated to women in science. Information is only available in German.
Deutscher Ingenieurinnen Bund e.VThe German Association of Women Engineers is an association of and for women that work in engineering or study engineering. The website is mainly in German with some information in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Greek and Russian.

In France

Ministry of Research and New TechnologiesThese pages describe the French Ministry for Research and New Technologies’ policy in favour of a well-balanced mix in research and education. This site is available in French.
Mission pour la place des femmes au CNRS The Mission aims to support women working at France’s national centres for scientific research (CNRS).
Ministry of Youth, Education and Research The equal opportunities section contains gender-related statistics. There is also a link to the ‘Women and Science’ website. The information on these sites is available in French.
Association Femmes et Science France’s Women and Science Association aims to improve the position and image of women in public and private scientific institutions across the country. The website is mainly in French with some information in English.

In Ireland

Women in Technology & Science (WITS) WITS actively promotes women’s involvement in science in Ireland. The association has members from a broad range of scientific, engineering and technological backgrounds including teachers, computer experts, technicians and journalists.
Mentorlink.ie Mentorlink.ie is a three-year project funded by Ireland’s Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It aims to establish a support structure of mentors for young women entering the engineering field.

In The Netherlands

Emancipatie This webpage contains links to emancipation-related organisations, documents and websites on women in higher education and science in the Netherlands. Information is only available in Dutch.
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science This webpage focuses on the position of Dutch women in education and science, providing information on and links to government policy, press releases, national reports, newspaper articles and speeches. Information is only available in Dutch.
National organisation of women in higher technical education and positions This organisation aims to increase the involvement of Dutch women in advanced technological education and careers. The site offers information on projects, networks, interesting publications and links in Dutch and English.
Centre for Gender and Diversity The Centre initiates, inspires and coordinates education and research at all Maastricht University's gender and diversity studies facilities. It also provides a link to the EQUAL project, which aims to familiarise participating universities with gender mainstreaming. The site is available in Dutch and English.
Dutch Women’s Studies AssociationThe Association promotes, at the national and international levels, the importance of gender studies and the role of women in science. The site is only available in Dutch.
Netwerk voor Informaticae, Mathematicae en Fysicae (NIMF) NIMF is an informal and diverse network of women working in or studying computer science, mathematics or physics and aims to enhance the profile of women in these fields. The website is available in Dutch.

In Switzerland

Femdat Femdat is a comprehensive Swiss database of women scientists and experts from various fields. The website is available in French, German and English.
Federal Gender Equality Programme for Universities 2000–2003 This government-funded programme aims to double the proportion of female professors from 7% (in 1998) to 14% by 2006. This website – available in French and German – outlines the measures necessary for the successful accomplishment of this goal.
Federal Programme for Equal Opportunities in Applied Science 2000-2003 An expert group has developed an action plan on behalf of the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET). The plan aims to boost the number of women working in Swiss universities of applied science. This site is available in French, German and Italian.
Federal Office for Equality between Women and MenThe Office promotes equality between men and women in all walks of Swiss life and aims to eliminate all forms of direct and indirect gender discrimination. The site is available in French, German, Italian and English.

International Projects and Links

In USA

The USA has a wide range of networks and runs several influential conferences, including the Grace Hopper Conference. Although US dominated, they are open to all nations.

Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology is a nationally recognized organization that provides platforms allowing women's voices, ideas and spirits to influence technology. The participants in the Anita Borg Institute's programs are an unusual mix of academics and industry, and include many of the technology thought leaders of today. Its impact is significant on the lives and careers of women who both work in the technology field and are affected by technology. Their mission is to increase the impact of women on all aspects of technology, to increase the positive impact of technology on the lives of the world's women, and to help communities, industry, education and government benefit from these increases.
The Society of Women Engineers The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders. The SWE organizes an annual national conference.

In Canada

INWES International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists INWES’s aims are to to strengthen the capacity of organisations working on women in science, technology and engineering worldwide through the exchange of information, networking, advocacy and promotion of specific projects; to be a stronger, effective voice and influence in scientific, engineering and technological issues; and to increase the presence of women in mainstream science, technology and engineering organisations.