ICWES-XII: Ottawa, Canada, July 27–31, 2002

This chapter is devoted to ICWES-XII, held in Ottawa, Canada, in July 2002. Monique Frize was the Conference Chair. Under the main theme “Women in a Knowledge-Based Society,” Claire Deschênes, the Program Chair, stated that the conference focus was “on developing a new vision of women’s role and of their contributions in S&T.” ICWES-XII attracted a large international audience of 550 participants from 49 countries. The presentations encompassed a very large variety of scientific, technical, social, and educational subjects. The paper and poster submissions were peer-reviewed. Two symposia were held: on climate change and on ethics and science. On the gender front, topics were not only related to women’s contributions in S&T and women’s studies in S&T but also to advocacy in favor of women’s successful inclusion in STEM in various countries and sectors of activities. Three tracks were proposed: women’s studies, youth, and women and health. A panel was organized by Aboriginal women on the transmission of knowledge (Keepers of the Circle). An important goal of the business meeting was to approve the creation of the not-for-profit International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES), and to select the interim Board of Directors. Testimonials were also included in this chapter.