Women in Science

The Working Group on Women in Science (WISE) was established in 2001. Its main objective is to facilitate awareness on the issue of Women in Science, to encourage people to participate actively in promoting gender equality in science, and to support the Constituent Societies of FEBS and academic institutions in FEBS countries on the issue of Women in Science.

The Working Group has organized workshops on Women in Science topics at several FEBS Congresses in recent years, as well as a lunch for young female scientists to discuss career-related issues with senior scientists (photo above is from the FEBS–EMBO 2014 lunch, organized in collaboration with EMBO and L'Oréal). In addition, each year FEBS and EMBO work together to select one outstanding female scientist for the FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award. Previous winners were Ottoline Leyser (2017), Fiona Watt (2016), Caroline Dean (2015), Pascale Cossart (2014), Geneviève Almouzni (2013), Susan Gasser (2012), Carol Robinson (2011), Ingrid Grummt (2010), Anne Houdusse (2009) and Naama Barkai (2008). More details about the FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award are given in the Awards section of the FEBS website.

The winner of the 2018 FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award is Frauke Melchior (Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH) at Heidelberg University, Germany); see the press release in the news section of the website to read about her selection and career.

The work of the FEBS Working Group on Women in Science is reported to FEBS Council and in the Working Group on Women in Science appendix of the FEBS Annual Report. Occasional reports also appear in FEBS News. To contact the Working Group Chair, Prof. Cecilia Arraiano, please use the Contact Us section of the website.