European Platform of Women Scientists

The European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS) is an umbrella organisation bringing together networks of women scientists and organisations committed to gender equality in research in all disciplines in Europe 27 and the countries associated to the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development. The Platform welcomes researchers working in any discipline and working in science in its widest sense, ranging from natural to social sciences, including, but not restricted to, science, engineering and technology. EPWS currently counts more than 100 member organisations, together working for more than 12.000 women researchers all over Europe active in academia and in industrial research.

Legally established as an international non-profit organisation under Belgian law (AISBL) in November 2005 and governed by an international, multidisciplinary Board of Administration of 11 high ranking women scientists, EPWS constitutes a new strategic instrument in European research policy, complementing various initiatives taken at the European level to ensure a better participation of women scientists in research and in the research policy process as well as the inclusion of the gender dimension in research.

Goals
The Platform’s main goals are to:

Network existing networks of women scientists and networks engaged in promoting women scientists in all disciplines and promote networking among women scientists, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe and in the private sector.

Increase the participation of women scientists in European research and its decision-making bodies – as project researchers, leaders, and coordinators, in review and evaluation panels as well as high level expert groups.

Increase the participation women scientists in national and European research programmes, especially in the Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

Promote the understanding and the inclusion of the gender dimension in science and research policy in all scientific fields as well as an inclusive, gender-sensitive notion of excellence and innovation.

Activities
The Platform has four main areas of activities:

Networking and Membership: From its headquarters in Brussels , EPWS seeks to support the work of a whole range of existing national and regional networks of women scientists by "networking the networks". EPWS continues to grow, currently counting around 160 networks of women scientists and networks promoting women scientists from more than 35 countries in its database.

Research Policy and Advocacy: The Platform’s assets are its close contact to the community of women scientists and its constant dialogue with EU research policy institutions and the Brussels science community.

Information and Public Relations: EPWS newsletters and news alerts reach more than 1.500 subscribers; its electronic platform is constantly further developed and has some hundreds of visitors daily from all over Europe.

Private and Public Partnerships: The Platform continuously explores possibilities for collaborations with member networks, research institutions, foundations, research intensive companies and other private and public institutions.

External links
http://epws.org/
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