ICWES-XI, Chiba, Japan, July 24–27, 1999

This chapter is devoted to ICWES-XI, held in Chiba, Japan, in July 1999. This conference was the result of cooperation between the Society of Japanese Women Scientists, the Japanese Women Engineers Forum, and, as an honorary, with the Science Council of Japan. Michiko Ishii was the chairperson of the conference. Its main theme was “Science and Technology for Global Ecology.” Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, honorary president, delivered an opening message that summarized the essence of the conference, emphasizing environmental issues created by humans and the need to set up a strong international network of women engineers and scientists to cooperate in ecological efforts. Following this avenue, the proposed scientific topics concerned, as usual, energy, industry, transportation, and information, as well as human impact, quality of life, education and ethics, environment and ecology, and women in science. There was a strong participation of women in life sciences and education. The minutes of the business meeting have not been found, but the delegates voted to hold ICWES-XII in Canada. They also declared, notably, that the network should promote gender equality worldwide towards a better twenty-first century. Testimonials were also included in this chapter.