International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists
International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists
Conference for women engineers and scientists
ICWES (International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists) is an international conference for engineers and scientists. Established in 1964, it takes place every 3–4 years in countries around the world.[1][2]
Mechanical engineer Ila Ghosh (née Majumdar), from India, who attended the second ICWES conference in Cambridge, England in 1967
The first ICWES conference took place in New York City, United States of America in 1964 and was organised by the American Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Beatrice Hicks was Conference Director and Ruth Shafer was Operations Chairman.[9] The Technical Program was managed by Margaret R. Fox and the PR by Elsie Eaves.[10] The theme of the conference was on developing engineering and scientific talent for the future.[10][11]
There were 493 listed attendees from 35 different countries, including Lillian Gilbreth, Beatrice Hicks, Grace Hopper, Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha, and Isabel Hardwich.[1] The conference received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Asia Foundation, the Engineers Joint Council, as well as other companies and individual donations.[12] Included in the conference programme was a trip to the New York's World Fair, which was taking place at the same time.[12] The conference proceedings published a message sent to the conference from Lyndon B. Johnson, which stated that 'in focusing on the untapped potential and ability of talented women to participate in these professional activities, you and your colleagues are performing a distinguished service in our society'.[10]
The second ICWES conference was organised by the United Kingdom's Women's Engineering Society (WES) and took place in Cambridge, England in 1967.[14] The themes of the conference were the application of technology to solve world food problems and the question of women's representation in engineering and science across the world.[14] There were 309 listed attendees from 35 different countries, with attendees including Ghanaian zoologist Leticia Obeng, Ugandan engineer Miriam Muwanga, Japanese geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi, American aeronautical engineer Katherine Stinson, Betty Lou Bailey who worked for General Electric Company and engineer and journalist Elsie Eaves[15] and Indian mechanical engineer Ila Ghose and K. K. Khubchandani.[1] Nigerian physicists Deborah Ajakaiye and Ebun Adegbohungbe also attended.[14][16] In The Woman Engineer – journal of WES – Leticia Obeng commented on the atmosphere of the conference: 'The change from the serious talks in the Chemistry Laboratory Hall to the gay atmosphere at the pre-banquet reception was a vivid demonstration of the adaptability of the human female to varying conditions.'[17][14] British attendees included engineers Isabel Hardwich, Ira Rischowski (who was accommodation secretary), Rose Winslade, Cicely Thompson, and Hettie Bussell.[15] No delegates attended from Russia due to the Six-Day War.[18]
The fifth International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists was held 4–8 September 1978 in Rouen, France, under the auspices of the Cercle Des Femmes Ingenieurs, led by their President, Nicole Becarud. It was attended by over 200 delegates from 35 countries.[21][22]
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