Women in Science Without Borders (WISWB) is an initiative and network of scientists from over 67 countries. Its mission is to integrate women and men equally in scientific collaborations of merit regardless of gender. This initiative was mainly founded to help achieve sustainable development goals, particularly gender equality.
WISWB is a community-based initiative with slogan of (science for sustainable development) to develop societies through science. Participation is open to all, regardless of gender or age. “Science for All” is the basic organizing theme and language in its international gatherings – not culture, religion, or politics. As theoretical physicist and mathematician Brian Greene said, “When kids look up to great scientists the way they do to great musicians and actors, civilization will jump to the next level.”
WISWB was founded in 2017 by Prof Amal Amin, National Research Center in Egypt, with its first meeting in Egypt under the supervision of Egyptian young and senior academies. In 2018, the second event was held in South Africa at the University of Johannesburg.
In 2019, the third event was held in Cairo again, co-organized with the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) under the title of World Forum for Women in Science with the theme of ‘Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Development’. In 2020, the fourth event was held in Brazil organized by the Brazilian academy of sciences. Then, in March 2021, the fifth meeting was organized by university of Duhok in Iraq dedicated to refugee and displaced scientists. Also, in November 2021, the sixth meeting was organized by the university of Embu, Kenya. In 2022, the next conference will be conducted from September 12th to 15th in the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
WISWB has been supported by industry, science academies, government officials, and international organizations such as Sanofi, Wellcome Trust, L’Oreal, Johnson & Johnson, Elsevier, International Science Council (ISC), Global Young Academy (GYA), EU, Japanese Science and Technology Agency (JST), Bosch Foundation, Next Einstein Forum (NEF), Brazilian Academy of Sciences, UNESCO, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Young Affiliates Network (TYAN), African Academy of Sciences (AAS), and others.
