July 2008

ICWES 14

The 14th International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists

There was another spectacular ICWES conference this summer, when 500 women engineers and scientists from across the world gathered together in Lille, France from the 15th to the 18th July 2008. They have been meeting this way every three years since 1964, in an event that celebrates women’s achievements and provides inspiration to many women and girls. Their programme includes talks from women experts, technical papers on a range of subjects, and panel discussions and workshops aimed at helping women develop their careers.

This year’s title was “A changing world: new opportunities for Women Engineers and Scientists”.

The conference focused on issues of Management and Leadership, Diversity and Ethics. Moreover, key technical topics have been discussed including opportunities and challenges in sustainable development, waste management,  water resources, climate changes, information and communication technologies and new biotechnologies. Other important features of the conference were a Youth Forum, a formal session to meet “Inspirational Role Models”, and the opportunity to learn more about mentoring.

ICWES 14 resulted a valuable opportunity for making international contacts and networking during the various sessions, workshops and outstanding social events. It was also a perfect opportunity to meet experts in their fields such as Judith Glover, Johannes Klumpers (European Commission), Pauline Gagnon, Martine Lapierre, Nicky Lefeuvre and Pietra Rivoli.

Key figures

500 participants from 60 countries

130 oral presentations, 11 key-notes sessions and 50 posters

A major international event supported by the European Commission

ICWES is an event recognised worldwide. It was established in 1964 and this year’s conference has taken place in Europe again after more than ten years. It took place in Lille, the cultural capital of Europe 2004, hosted and sponsored by the Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council and the DG Research of the European Commission. ICWES 14 was organised by CNISF (Conseil National des Ingénieurs et Scientifiques de France), along with associations of Women engineers and scientists in France (FI - Association des Femmes Ingénieurs, F&S – Femmes et Sciences, f&m – Femmes et Mathématiques), dib (deutscher ingenieurinnen bund e.v.) in Germany and WES (Women’s Engineering Society) in the United Kingdom. The ICWES conferences are one of the projects of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES).

Some financial support was also available for women in STEM from developing countries to enable them to participate in the conference.

For further information : www.icwes14.org