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Draft:WISENET

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WISENET (Women in Science Enquiry Network), was a volunteer network for women scientists in Australia established in 1984.[1] It was created from the Women's Studies forum at the 1984 conference of the Australian & New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) in Canberra.[2] The network was formed with the goal of giving women a fairer share in the responsibilities and benefits of science and technological change. Member concerns included discrimination in academic and scientific employment.[3]

From their inception, the network included an education group which hosted talks in Canberra.[4] They established a science shop to link scientific expertise with community groups, with projects on recycling polystyrene and collating information on repetitive strain injury.[5]

In 1989, WISENET ran a program of speakers about careers for women in science and technology. It toured in Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra (possibly South Australia).[6]

In 1992, activities included:

  • lobbying regarding budget cuts and advocating for increased funding to medical research as an area of employment for women,
  • joining two coalitions of women's groups sponsored by the National Foundation for Australian Women. These were Women into Politics and CAPOW (Coalition of Australian Participating Organisations of Women), and
  • updating the display about women in science and technology and Australia, shown at the Australian Festival of Science.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hefner, Robert (24 January 1988). "Swap card program aims to increase scientific literacy". The Canberra Times. p. 4.
  2. ^ "Non-sexist science". Woroni. 7 April 1988. p. 14.
  3. ^ Bowen, Margarita (April 1985). "Women and science - after 1984". Wisenet: Journal of the Women in Science Enquiry Network (1): 2.
  4. ^ "WISENET". The Canberra Times. 15 August 1986. p. 14.
  5. ^ Burgess, Verona (28 May 1988). "Scientists and community 'to meet' at science shop". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Career options for women". The Canberra Times. 3 August 1989. p. 5. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  7. ^ "AGM WISENET minutes". WISENET: Journal of the Women in Science Enquiry Network (32): 17. July 1993.

External links[edit]