1. Background

The Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) is an independent, non-profit , non-governmental body based at the offices of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy. The idea of setting up a Third World Organization for Women in Science was first discussed at the conference on The Role of Women in the Development of Science and Technology in the Third World, convened by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and TWAS in Trieste, Italy, during the period 3-7 October 1988. The participants of the conference, which included 218 leading women scientists and technologists from 63 Third World countries, recommended that a Study Group be set up to explore the possibility of creating an association/organization of women in science. Such a group was subsequently formed, and at its meeting in Trieste from 20-22 March 1989 it decided to establish the Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) and to adopt the constitution for the organization.

TWOWS was officially launched at the inaugural and international conference entitled Women's Vision of Science and Technology for Development, which took place in January 1993, in Egypt, with strong support from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT, Egypt), the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), TWAS and the Egyptian Government. The objective of the Conference was to identify new dimensions for women's research in science and technology, education and training, thereby enhancing capacity building in science and technology in their institutions and countries.

TWOWS is the first international forum to unite eminent women scientists and scientific institutions in the South, with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership.

2. Objectives

The objectives of TWOWS are:

• To strengthen the research efforts and training opportunities of young women scientists working and living in Third World countries;
• To survey and analyse the status and prospects of women in science and technology in the Third World;
• To promote the recognition of the scientific and technological achievements of women;
• To improve the access to educational and training opportunities for women in science and technology;
• To increase the scientific productivity and efficiency of women scientists in the Third World;
• To promote collaboration and communication among women scientists and technologists in the Third World and with the international scientific community as a whole;
• To promote their participation in the decision-making processes, both at the national and international levels;
• To encourage other international organizations to increase their activities concerned with the promoting the role of women in science and technology in the Third World.

3. Membership

Full membership is open to women scientists and scientific institutions in the South. Currently there are 1703 Full individual members and 29 Full institutional members from 82 developing countries.

The Associate membership comprises institutions and individuals (male and female) from both the North and the South not fulfilling the criteria for Full membership but committed to the objectives of the Organization. At present 244 individuals and 39 institutions from 44 countries in the South and 23 countries in the North are Associate members.

In addition, there are 13 Candidate members from 10 developing countries, i.e. young women from the South who have not yet earned their first degree in science and technology.

Membership of the Organization is free of charge and members regularly receive the TWOWS Newsletter and its publications such as the Directory of Full Members.

For further information, please contact:

Pour tout complément d'information, s'adresser à Leena MUNGAPEN dont les coordonnées sont en fin du texte anglais.

[1] Full Membership From Countries in the South

[2] Associate Membership From Countries in the South

[3] Associate Membership From Countries in the North