European Platform of Women Scientists
Encyclopedia
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 http://www.epws.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=19 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.
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
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
Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development
The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP1 through FP8, are funding programmes created by the European Union in order to support and encourage research in the European Research Area...
. The Platform welcomes researchers working in any discipline and working in science in its widest sense, ranging from natural to social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial 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
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
under Belgian law (AISBL
Association internationale sans but lucratif
Internationale vereniging zonder winstoogmerk or Association internationale sans but lucratif is a form of corporation in Belgium. See Non-governmental organization....
) in November 2005 http://www.epws.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=19 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 EuropeCentral EuropeCentral Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western 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 of 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: EPWS seeks to support the work of a whole range of existing national and regional networks of women scientists by "networking the networks".
- 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 the world.
- 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/
- http://www.epws.net/