EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36

European Platform of Women Scientists NEWSLETTER, issue 36, October 2014 In this newsletter: Page 2

Message from the President

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EPWS Executive Committee and Board of Administration

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CONGRATULATIONS to EPWS PRESIDENT – AWARDED ODER OF MERIT 1st CLASS!

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Report on the 2014 EPWS Conference: “New Perspectives for Women Scientists’ Careers in Europe” EPWS Seventh General Assembly 2014 - report 5th International Conference on Women in Physics, Canada

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EPWS Poster

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NEWS from EPWS and its Members: 9 9

Congratulations to Anne-Marie Jolly appointed vice-president of the French Commission of Engineering Degrees Congratulations! Femmes & Sciences awarded French trophy on Women-Men Equality.

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Bench Marking Report “NATIONAL MEASURES FOR THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF SCIENCE FOR GIRLS IN DIFFERENT MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND BEYOND”

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Your Life Campaign and Call to Action, UK

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Femmes & Sciences Colloquium, France – October 2014

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Opening Doors Project, UK

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Exhibition: A Place for Women in Science, Romania

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ICWIP 2014 video: "HerStories: Wisdom and Encouragement from Women in Physics."

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Women’s Empowerment political events, Vilnius, Lithuania - October 2014

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European Women Researchers’ Day - March 2014 Gender in Science at Second African Ministerial SET Forum, Morocco, Africa - October 2014

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EPWS APPLICATION FORM Subscriptions Notes from the Editor Contact details

European Platform of Women Scientists, enquiries: [email protected], website: www.epws.org

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MESSAGE FROM THE EPWS PRESIDENT Dear Readers, dear Friends of EPWS, The summer is over and the golden autumn has begun, so it is time for a new issue of the EPWS newsletter. The present issue gives us a lot of information about EPWS and its members’ work concerning women in science and research. First of all the report on the EPWS annual conference in Paris “New Perspectives for Women Scientists’ Careers in Europe” and the EPWS General Assembly in June 2024 in Paris. The conference was attended by more than 80 delegates from 17 European countries and Armenia and USA. It was a great success and a very effective brand awareness for the international EPWS network of women scientists. The Progress Report at the General Assembly gave an impressive survey about the work and activities of EPWS and its members in projects, presentations, conferences and other events Europe-wide. There is a report about the International Conference on Women in Physics in Canada, and there are many other news items from EPWS and its members. The EPWS and its activities are noticed all over the world, as I myself have realized in recent days. That is a nice recompense for our voluntary work, and it is an encouragement for all of us to continue working for more equal opportunities for women scientists and for more consideration of the gender dimension in science and research. With my kind regards, Brigitte Mühlenbruch EPWS President

EPWS EPWS Executive Committee: Committee: Executive President President Dr Brigitte Brigitte Mühlenbruch Mühlenbruch Dr Former Managing Managing Director Director of of the the Former Centre of Excellence Women and Centre of Excellence Women and Science CEWS, Germany Science CEWS, Germany Vice-President Vice-President Professor Claudine Claudine Hermann Hermann Professor Ecole Polytechnique, Femmes && Ecole Polytechnique, Femmes Sciences, France Sciences, France

Board of Administration: Dr Dora Groo, Association of Hungarian Women in Science, Hungary Professor Liisa Husu, Örebro University, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki Association of Women Researchers, Sweden and Finland Professor Ana Maria Lobo, New University of Lisbon, Amonet, Portugal Ann Marks, Women in Physics Group, IOP, UK Dr Lucia Martinelli , Museo delle Scienze - MUSE, Trento, Donne e Scienza, Italy Dr Yasmin Robson, Daphnet, Oxford AWiSE, UK Associate Professor Dr Dalia Šatkovskienė, Vilnius University, Baltic States regional association BASNET Forumas, Lithuania

EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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CONGRATULATIONS! EPWS President Honoured with Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for pioneering work in the promotion of women in science Dr Brigitte Mühlenbruch, the President of the European Platform of Women Scientists, has been honoured with the Order of Merit 1st Class of the Federal Republic of Germany in acknowledgement of her pioneering work in the promotion of women in science at national as well as European level. She received the Order of Merit by the German Federal President Joachim Gauck himself in Berlin on 6 October 2014 on the occasion of the Day of German Unity. Brigitte Mühlenbruch worked as a scientist at the University of Bonn for almost 20 years before becoming the University’s first Equal Opportunities Commissioner 1988-2000. Since the late 1980’s her research and concept development have focused on gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and programmes and processes regarding the recruitment and retention of female scientists in Germany as well as at the EU level. She was founder and long-term spokeswomen of the Federal Conference of Gender Equality Officers in Higher Education in Germany (BuKoF) 1992-1999 and co-founder and Vice President of the Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard-Foundation. Brigitte Mühlenbruch initiated the Centre of Excellence Women and Science CEWS in Bonn and was its Managing Director 2000-2005, managing several research projects funded by the German government and the EU in the field of gender equality in science. Under her leadership, CEWS drafted the winning proposal for the establishment of the European Platform of Women Scientists EPWS in Brussels and signed the contract with the European Commission in 2005. In her different capacities, Brigitte Mühlenbruch is member and scientific advisor of several high profile national and European scientific committees, commissions and expert groups. The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. The Order of Merit may be awarded to Germans as well as foreigners for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for all kinds of outstanding services to the nation in the field of social, charitable or philanthropic work. No pecuniary reward is attached. Maren A. Jochimsen: Duisburg-Essen University

Brigitte Mühlenbruch with President Joachim Gauck (Bildnachweis: Bundesregierung/ Sebastian Bolesch)

More information: http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/JoachimGauck/2014/10/141006-Verdienstorden-Tag-der-deutschen-Einheit.html?nn=1892262 EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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Report on the EPWS Conference at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research Paris

New Perspectives for Women Scientists’ Careers in Europe 11 June 2014 The conference, organised by the European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS), was attended by over 80 delegates, from 17 EU countries, Armenia and the USA, representing numerous organisations working to overcome the issues for women in science today. The event was hosted, in Paris, at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research in the Amphitheater Stourdzé. The programme began with a message from the Deputy-Minister of Higher Education and Research, who welcomed delegates warmly. The conference had been organised by Claudine Hermann, the Vice President of the EPWS, working in collaboration with Yvonne Pourrat, of the French EPWS member association ECEPIE. Caroline Bélan-Ménagier, of COST (European Collaboration in Science and Technology), is based at the ministry. She thanked Claudine who represents EPWS at the ministry, saying the ministry needs to have the collaboration of people who are ‘on the ground’, and it is now known ‘that they are making things move because there is more resistance; an indication they are on the right track’.

EPWS Conference delegates in the Amphitheater Stourdzé of the French Ministry

(Right to left), Yvonne Pourrat, Claudine Hermann and Viviane Willis-Mazzichi (DG Research) sitting

Yvonne Pourrat, who has coordinated three gender-related EU projects, chaired the morning session, which focussed on ‘Gender in the new European Framework Programme Horizon 2020’: it began with a video message from Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, a Member of the European Parliament and President of the European Union of Women, who thanked the EPWS for their important role, emphasising there is still a lot of work to be done, but she will do everything she can as a member of the EU parliament to further this work.


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New Perspectives for Women Scientists’ Careers in Europe Continued: We are grateful that all the speakers at the conference, who used slides, have agreed that their presentations will be available on the EPWS website (http://home.epws.org/EPWS-ParisConference-2014) for everyone to read, along with the full programme. We received a valuable update of Horizon 2020 from Viviane Willis-Mazzichi, the Head of Sector “Gender”, European Commission, DG Research and Innovation and Nadine Heller-Genath, of FiF Bonn, provided examples of best practice. Then seven current EU gender-related projects were each presented briefly by inspiring talks describing the impressive work underway.

Nadine Heller (speaking) with Claudine Hermann and Yvonne Pourrat on her right.

Anne Pépin (speaking) with Maxime Forest to her right.

Following a delicious networking lunch, the afternoon session focussed on ‘Up-skilling Women Scientists Careers - European and French perspectives’. A personal view of modern sexism, was followed by a round table on Human Resources Management in R&D in both the private sector and in public research institutions. Then mentoring experiences were described in different institutions and organisations in France. All these presentations provoked numerous penetrating questions and we thank all who participated in these lively discussions. The afternoon was drawn to a conclusion by André Béraud, of ECEPIE, who cautioned that, although we now understand the problems more clearly, the next step is the implementation.

Over 80 delegates fill the lecture theatre.

Christine Charretton with Helene Fueger on her right.

Maren Jochimsen presents a bouquet to Claudine Hermann.

Thanks and congratulations are due to the organisers and speakers for providing such a vibrant snapshot of the activities across Europe towards securing a level playing field for the future. The President of the EPWS, Brigitte Muehlenbruch, had been unable to attend so wishes were conveyed for her rapid recovery. Ann Marks, EPWS BoA, June 2014 EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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EPWS General Assembly 2014 11 June 2014 Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Paris, France The Vice-President Claudine Hermann opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and checking it was quorate. She offered the apologies of EPWS President Brigitte Muehlenbruch who could not attend for health reasons; the participants wished the President a prompt recovery. The EPWS administrative seat remains at Rue d’Arlon 38, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium and EPWS is continuing its activities on a voluntary basis. In accordance with EPWS statutes, the main areas of activity consist of networking and membership; research policy; public relations and information, including the electronic platform; private and public partnerships and fundraising. A booklet presentation of EPWS and its activities “The European Platform of Women Scientists-the voice of women scientists in Europe” can be downloaded from the EPWS website at http://goo.gl/WNZJTF. Members of the EPWS Board of Administration (BoA) have participated in numerous networking and dissemination activities across Europe during the past year, including the European Commission’s Network of Women in Decision Making in Politics and the Economy, organised by DG Justice: which continues as an e-mail cooperation. Recently, EPWS has been accepted by COST genderSTE as an observer of the Management Committee (Brigitte Muehlenbruch) of this European network in the category Specific Countries; Dora Groo, Dalia Satkovskiene are members of the Management Committee as national representatives respectively for Hungary and Lithuania and Liisa Husu and Ana Lobo are substitute representatives for Sweden and Portugal respectively. Since the 2013 General Assembly, EPWS Executive Committee (EC) and BoA members gave 29 presentations at conferences and events, in Brussels, in Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Taiwan and United Kingdom to a total audience of 1700. Examples of EPWS BoA participation in EU projects are: Structural Changes Encouraging Gender Equality in Scientific Institutions (Dalia Satkovskiene), GenderTime (Yvonne Pourrat), INTEGER (Anne Pépin), GenPort (Liisa Husu), SHEMERA (Dora Groo, Flavia Zucco). Thanks are due to EPWS BoA Members Dora Groo, Yasmin Robson and the Vice-President who have managed the membership activities; to Maren Jochimsen and the President who handled other financial matters; to Ann Marks as newsletter editor and to Yuri Sousa as web-editor. It was agreed unanimously that EPWS membership fees should not be increased for 2015. However, many EPWS members have been late in paying their fees, creating a costly and timeconsuming problem. We would be grateful if membership fees for 2015 are paid by bank transfer and with the indication of the member number immediately at receipt of the debit note. Details of the membership are on the EPWS website along with the financial contributors and supporting organisations, together with their logos, links and profiles at: http://support.epws.org/ . Finally thanks are due to all EPWS members and we look forward to another successful year. Claudine Hermann: Vice President EPWS EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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The 5th International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP) Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada

5 - 8 August 2014

Over 200 women physicists and some men physicists from 51 countries attended the 5th International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP) sponsored by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). The conference programme was packed with plenary talks, poster sessions and workshops. The vibrant atmosphere provided numerous opportunities to share experiences and practices to support women in physics and thereby build links across the world. Ann Marks, team leader of the UK delegation, represented the EPWS and presented a poster (see p8) promoting the work of the EPWS to the world-wide audience. All abstracts and country updates, including a report about EPWS, were issued with the programme and are available on the conference website. We missed Dalia Šatkovskienė of the EPWS BoA, who was unable attend.

The official conference photograph of delegates from across the world.

The welcome from distinguished guests emphasised the vital need for women in physics and the plenary speakers gave frank insights into their experiences as physicists as well as describing their research. Please see the conference website at http://icwip2014.wlu.ca/ for more details. The workshop topics were: Gender Studies, Physics Education, Improving the workplace environment, Professional Development and Leadership, and Cultural perception and bias/Science practice and Ethics. Each workshop proposed resolutions, which were discussed during the closing session of the conference before submission to the IUPAP General Assembly in November 2014 for ratification for implementation world-wide. There were delegations from several European countries and I am convinced that the conference definitely helped to advance the agenda of women in physics across the world. The full conference proceedings will be published on the AIP website. Ann Marks: EPWS BoA EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

Discussing EPWS during the ICWIP Conference

(Please also see p12 regarding the conference video.) 7

The EPWS Poster for the 2014 International Conference on Women in Physics

European Platform of Women Scientists 2011 -14 August 2014

The participation of women in science and research and in the research policy debate is a fundamental human right of women scientists, and therefore a matter of justice. Failing to make full use of the available qualified human potential of women scientists is detrimental to economies and societies at the macro level as well as to individual research institutions on the micro level.

EPWS

BACKGROUND 2005: EPWS established General Assemblies held annually from 2007 - recent: 2011 in Budapest, Hungary 2012 in Brussels, Belgium, 2013 in Essen, Germany, 2014 in Paris, France,

MAJOR EVENTS 2011-14 2011: Training, Career and Mobility of Researchers in the Innovative Union - EPWS major session at the Hungarian Presidency Conference Budapest 2012: Round table debate with Members of the European Parliament, held in the EU Parliament Brussels (Round table in EU Parliament)

The European Platform of Women Scientists, EPWS, is an umbrella organization bringing together networks of women scientists and organizations committed to gender equality in scientific research in all disciplines in the 28 European Union (EU) Member States and the countries associated to the EU research programme.

EPWS: a network of networks EPWS Activities EPWS’s activities are to represent, with democratic legitimacy and transparent decision-making structures, the concerns, needs, aspirations and interests of women scientists, in all stages of their career path, in dialogue with national, European and international institutions. Examples:

2013: EPWS Conference Institutionalising Gender and Diversity in University structures - Essen 2013: Participated in the SAPGERIC a major Conference held under the Lithuanian European Presidency Vilnius (EPW S board members at SAPGERIC)

-Participating in or providing expert contributions to major European science gender projects; -Preparing responses to EC consultations with position papers and open letters; -Disseminating EU policy decisions concerned with gender in science issues and news from members via newsletters and the EPW S website;

policy makers

members

EPWS MISSION is to: •

Promote women scientists;

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Represent European women scientists so that they have a voice in EU research policy;

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Coordinate support activities for women scientists to facilitate their active role as researchers in the European Research Area.

EPWS MEMBERSHIP •

Over 200 member organisations individuals and supporters, • representing more than 12,000 women researchers active in academia and in industrial research, • more than 1600 on the EPWS newsletter distribution list, EPWS website pageviews average over 2000 per month. Membership by European Region East Individual North

Network

South West

Horizon 2020: a synergy between EPWS and the Helsinki group (Women and Science civil servants) of the European Union Member states enabled lobbying at the European Commission and European Parliament levels so that several articles on Gender are in Horizon 2020 Regulations. Cartoon from Amonet: EPWS member

2014: EPWS Conference – New perspectives for Women Scientists’ Careers in Europe, held in the Ministry of Higher Education and Research – Paris (EPW S Paris 2014)

Other 0

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EPWS is governed by an international, multidisciplinary Board of Administration of 11 senior women scientists, of whom four are physicists, New member organisations and individuals are welcome! Contact [email protected]

European Platform of Women Scientists Rue d’Arlon,38 B-1000 Brussels

EPWS keeping the Voice of Women Scientists in Europe alive!

Website:

http://www.epws.org

For offers of in-kind and/or financial support: [email protected]

Claudine Hermann, Vice President; Ann Marks and Dalia Satkovskiene, Board of Administration - EPWS


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NEWS FROM EPWS and its MEMBERS Congratulations! Anne-Marie Jolly appointed vicepresident of the French Commission of Engineering Degrees July 2014 Anne-Marie Jolly, who is the EPWS contact of Femmes Ingénieurs (French Women Engineers association) was appointed vicepresident of the Commission of Engineering Degrees (in French: ‘Commission des Titres d’ingénieurs’), i.e. the committee which checks the curricula of engineering schools and allows or not each French school to deliver the Engineering degree. She was the director of an engineering school in Lille, then of another one in Orléans and is the first woman in France to reach such a position. Please see (in French) - http://www.cticommission.fr/-Les-membres-de-la-CTI Claudine Hermann, Vice-President EPWS

Congratulations! Femmes & Sciences awarded French trophy on Women-Men Equality. July 2014 The French association Femmes & Sciences (F&S, Women and Science) was awarded the gold Trophy of the APEC (Association for Executives’ Employment) for Women-Men Equality http://www.tropheesegalite.apec.fr/ in the category “Public and para-public institutions, associations”, ex-aequo with the Commissariat for Atomic Energy and Alternatives Energies. “The association F&S aims at encouraging young people, and in particular girls, to join scientific and technological careers (up to now


with 75% men), promoting the image of science among women and strengthening the situation of women in scientific careers. Its objective is 40% of women at all levels and in particular in mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science. Three main types of actions have been set:  communication tools such as booklets, slides, quiz, videos, distributed and shown to the 4500 teenagers yearly;  interventions towards research hiring and promotion committees;  actions towards education and research authorities. (APEC press release).

Benchmarking Report For French Ministry of Higher Education and Research September 2014 “NATIONAL MEASURES FOR THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF SCIENCE FOR GIRLS IN DIFFERENT MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND BEYOND” The aim of this study for the ministry of Higher Education and Research is to present the initiatives launched in the Member States (and possibly other countries not belonging to the European Union - EU) aiming at improving the attractiveness of science for girls, or for the pool of girls possibly interested in science and technology in secondary education or in the first years of higher education. There is a great number and a great variety of such actions, some of them were set up ten or more years ago: the related issue of the declining interest for science studies by young people, and in particular by girls, were studied and analysed in reports, in France and in other countries at the end of the 1990’s. These 9

actions are realised by ministries, universities, research institutions, enterprises which are preparing their future women recruitment, learned societies, women scientists’ associations, etc. Several EU projects of the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes were tackling this issue. Some of these initiatives received strong media coverage. Such actions are mostly designed for both girls and boys, with a special focus on girls. Other activities try to raise teachers’ awareness of the issue of the attractiveness of science and technology for girls.

http://www.yourlife.org.uk/the-call-to-action for details about the ‘Call to Action’ to which over 180 organisations across business, educators, civil society and government have already responded and pledged their support.

After an introduction setting the issue of science attractiveness for girls into its historical context, the types of actions existing in France are recalled, then those in several EU member States and in Australia are presented. The initiatives on this topic by DG Research of the EU are described: i.e. projects funded in the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes and now the campaign “Science, it’s a girl’s thing!” The conclusion is followed by Annexes which will describe measures in some countries in greater details.

Over 220 persons attended the 2014 colloquium of the French association Femmes & Sciences (Women and Science) on “Equality between women and men: from scientific and technological education to research and enterprise jobs” on October 4th 2014 in Paris.

Ann Marks: EPWS BoA

Femmes & Science Colloquium Paris October 2014

Please see the long summary in English at: http://home.epws.org/filter/updates/EPWS-2014report-to-the-French-Ministry-of-Higher-Education

Claudine Hermann: EPWS Vice President

Your Life Campaign and Call to Action

Left-right: Claudine Hermann, F&S president of honor, the director of the Music Conservatory (venue), Pascale Boistard, and Evelyne Nakache, of F&S

UK Launched May 2014 As a result of recent UK government funding the ‘Your Life’ national, three-year campaign was launched to inspire more young people, particularly girls, to study maths and sciences as a gateway to exciting and wide-ranging careers. In parallel the campaign will help employers recruit and retain talent, particularly women. For more information, please http://www.yourlife.org.uk/ and also EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

see

The Deputy-minister for Women’s Rights, Pascale Boistard, opened the event with a supporting and hopeful speech. Then female and male students and young professionals described their own paths and videos released by the association were shown; this was followed by a session on unconscious gender stereotypes, particularly important in the studies orientation of teenagers. Many students and pupils attended this special session. 10

In the afternoon, initiatives for support of young women who have chosen, or wish to follow, scientific or technological education were described. Examples of actions in favour of equality between women and men in the public and private sectors were given. Finally, the Vice-President of the Paris region in charge of higher Education and Research gave her point of view on the conference topic and the Deputy-minister for Higher Education and Research, Geneviève Fioraso, closed the event. The proceedings of the colloquium will appear on www.femmesetsciences.fr/. Claudine Herman: EPWS Vice-President

Opening Doors Project

http://www.iop.org/education/teacher/support/ girls_physics/opening-doors/page_63803.html Additionally, in 2014 the Institute of Physics has also been awarded private funding for a three year pilot project on the progression of girls into post-16 physics. Ann Marks: EPWS BoA

Exhibition A Place for Women in Science Centre for Gender Equality in Science Doina Balahur, of "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Romania, organised the documentary exhibition ‘A Place for Women in Science’.

UK Launched June 2014 The ‘Opening Doors’ project was launched in June 2014. This UK government-funded pilot project aims to combat gender imbalance in subject choice. The project results from findings by the Institute of Physics. It will be facilitated by the Institute and will not be specific to physics, or science, but focus on a whole-school approach to addressing gender imbalance in progression to post-16. The project will establish regional networks to offer mutual support and share good examples. Also the network schools will carry out a programme of school sitevisits followed by confidential reports. The evidence from these reports will be used to develop a Code of Good Practice on gender equity for schools, which will be used across the whole school system.

The exhibition

The exhibition reflects the activities and events to promote gender equality in science, held at the Centre for Gender Equality in Science over the last 30 months, under the aegis of the European Project STAGES. The 24 panels incorporate more than 250 documents and photographs to illustrate activities aiming to make the scientific contribution and social responsibilities of women academics and researchers more visible. Doina Balahur is the coordinator of the STAGES European Project for the Centre for Gender Equality in Science.

For more details of the project please see EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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Please see: http://stages.csmcd.ro/index.php/documentary exhibitionuaic

Toni Sauncy (Chair of Physics at Texas Lutheran University and former Director of the Society of Physics Students)

Doina Balahur: Romania www.stages.csmcd.ro

Beth Cunningham (Executive Officer, American Association of Physics Teachers)

ICWIP 2014 video: "HerStories: Wisdom and Encouragement from Women in Physics." October 2014 Following the 2014 International Conference on Women in Physics (see page 7) a video has been produced by the American Association of School Teachers, of the inspiring stories of some of the 210 delegates who attended from 51 countries world-wide. The film producers write: “We proudly present the video production HerStories: Wisdom and Encouragement from Women in Physics. Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofEmJFJR5w&feature=youtu.be

We hope you agree that the video is very moving. We are touched by the stories and words of wisdom and encouragement from many women in physics from around the world. We thank all the ICWIP-2014 attendees who agreed to be interviewed. This video would not have been possible without them telling their stories. Feel free to distribute the video to your colleagues and women who are considering a career in physics. We hope many, many individuals watch the video.”


Political events in Vilnius devoted to Women’s Empowerment Lithuania October 2014 8th - 10th of October 2014 the high-level policy event- international conference “Empowering Women in Development: Challenges Beyond 2015” was held in Vilnius, Lithuania. The conference was patronized by Lithuanian president H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė. The conference concentrated on issues of women’s roles in politics, economics and global development with the goal of strengthening and expanding partnerships for the promotion of the gender equality aspect in the post-2015 agenda, and mainstreaming the gender equality in development both on the theoretical and practical levels. The following specific objectives were discussed during the conference: - facilitating a comprehensive discussion on policy principles and good practices in gender equality and women‘s rights in the post-2015 agenda; - developing the synergies between gender initiatives from different regions; - enhancing the political and civil dialogue on best practices for promoting gender equality. The conference was organized by Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eastern Europe Studies Centre with active participation of other partners including the Working Group on Women and Democracy (WGWD) of global intergovernmental coalition of states for supporting and strengthening democracy in the world - “Community of Democracies”.

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Prior to the Conference the meeting of Community of Democracies Working Group “Women and Democracy” was held. Ambassador Maria Leissner, Secretary General of the Community of Democracies took part in the meeting.

http://www.womenresearchersday.com/ Claudine Hermann: EPWS Vice-President

Stop Press! Gender in science addressed at 2nd African Ministerial Forum on Science, Technology and innovation Rabat, Morocco October 2014

Conference Photograph by Eduardas Bareika

During the Round table discussion of the future focus and plans of WGWD Prof. Dalia Šatkovskienė stressed the importance of women in research problems in the contemporary world and made a suggestion to include the political aspects of the problems into the WGWD priorities list. Also EPWS leaflets were distributed. Dalia Šatkovskienė: EPWS BoA

European Women Researchers’ Day March 2014 The First European Women Researchers’ Day took place on 28 March 2014. This international collaboration, aiming at increasing women researchers’ visibility and encouraging scientific collaborations and networks creation, was jointly organised by CNRS (EPWS supporting member) and our member Professor Dr Doina Balahur’s team of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University. Centre for Gender Equality in Science. It could be followed on the internet from all over Europe. Thanks to EPWS, Professor Helen Gleeson (University of Manchester, UK) was able to participate. She gave a very practical presentation on the types of fellowships in UK and also gave advice on how to complete a fellowship application form. EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

The 2nd African Ministerial Forum on STI took place in Morocco, 14-17 October 2014, in the Hassan II Academy of Science in Rabat. Hosted by the Government of Morocco, organised by the African Development Bank and the Government of Finland, the forum aimed at engaging African Ministers of Higher Education, Science and Technology and Industry in a dialogue with the private sector, academia, diaspora, civil society, and scientific communities globally on how to promote inclusive and green growth through scientific and technological innovation in Africa. The forum aimed to assess the current state of STI in Africa; global best practices and innovations in water, energy, natural resources, education, health, agriculture and climate change; informed choices about ICT applications to improve development effectiveness; developing skills, especially in STEM, teaching/reading and math, and job creation; and building strategic partnerships. Gender was one key theme, with a plenary presentation, and a panel on gender and science, chaired by the Ministry of Higher Education of Morocco, including an EPWS Board member, Professor Liisa Husu from Örebro University, Sweden, among the speakers. http://www.2ndstiforum.org/index.php/en/ Liisa Husu: EPWS BoA 13

Membership Application Form Please fill in this form in CAPITAL LETTERS and send it to [email protected]: Membership Type Requested (annual fee)  Full Member (120€)  Associate Member (100€)  Individual Supporting Member (please specify which type)  Professor (30€)  Researcher (30€) (please specify)  Student (no fee) (please specify)  Supporting Organisation (see also page 2) Name of Organisation/Network/Individual Applicant:

Address:

Telephone Number/ Fax Number: E-mail: Website: Research Area(s) Covered: Is your organisation/are you a member of any other network(s)? To be completed by applicants for Full Membership and Associate Membership Name(s) and position(s) of authorised representatives: 1. 2. How many members do you represent? To be completed by applicants for Individual Supporting membership: Affiliation: Position: I accept EPWS’ Terms and Conditions  Name _______________________ Date _____________________

(online at www.epws.org)

Signature : ___________________________ Place: ___________________________

Your personal data are for EPWS use only and will not be transmitted to third parties. EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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Subscriptions Remember - EPWS depends on membership fees to continue to exist. All membership fees are due annually each January. Fees should be paid by bank transfer using the IBAN bank system. Please see the ‘bank transfers’ page on the EPWS website at www.epws.org . Note - fees have not been increased for 2015. Please contact [email protected] if you have any problems regarding payment. Thank you,

EPWS Executive

Notes from the Editor: Dear Readers, The EPWS is a network of networks so please forward this email newsletter to all networks and individuals who are interested in women in science issues. All EPWS members are encouraged to submit newsletter articles to [email protected] marked ‘for the attention of the EPWS newsletter editor’. These may announce future events or report on news of their networks and of women in science activities in their countries. Articles should be short and may be submitted at any time but should be brief. Photographs are particularly welcome. Remember to visit the EPWS website at www.epws.org. Also do send recent information, of interest to our members and website visitors, please it to the Executive Committee at [email protected]. for posting on the website at http://home.epws.org/filter/data after approval. Please remember to recommend to colleagues and other networks that they join the EPWS! Best regards, Ann Marks

EPWS Board of Administration

EPWS Email Contacts: General enquiries: [email protected] (e.g. requests for speakers and general information) Membership applications and membership issues: [email protected] For financial support and/or offers of in-kind: [email protected] or use the ‘donation’ section on the EPWS website. Published by: EPWS Rue d’Arlon 38, B-1000 Brussels www.epws.org References Articles published in the EPWS Newsletter are based on articles featured in different EU publications and information portals, booklets, advertising, seminars, conferences, etc. Articles in this issue have been submitted by the Board of Administration and the Executive Committee. Articles are invited from members of the EPWS for future issues. The EPWS is not responsible for the accuracy of the content. EPWS Newsletter, Issue 36, October 2014

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