News

The ICWES Database is Published on the Data Deposit Borealis

Feb 28, 2026

Frize, Monique; Deschênes, Claire, 2026, “Supporting Data for: Women’s Contribution to Science and Technology through ICWES Conferences”, https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/LZJJLV, Borealis, V1, UNF:6:6sHlyQvXXqWMhYBDJYVKtA

The International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES) database is the supporting data for the book: “Women’s Contribution to Science and Technology through ICWES Conferences”, published in January 2024 at Springer. However, important topics remain to be investigated.

The ICWES database represents a rich testimony of the worldwide participation of women involved in science and engineering, and how they overcame their isolation through networking.

It covers ICWES-I to ICWES-XVII (1964 to 2017). The original data is part of the Archives for women in STEM. It was digitalized and deposited in Borealis, the University of Ottawa data deposit.

It contains a mix of presentations (scientific papers, keynotes, invited and plenary lectures), and different types of activities, such as workshops, symposia, panels, round tables, poster presentations, student competition papers, business meetings, tours, and social activities, etc. The ICWES database contains the conference documents (programs, proceedings, reports, booklets, etc.) for ICWES-I to ICWES-XVII, as well as organizers of the different conferences, some lists of participants, Delegate Business Meeting reports, testimonials, bibliographies, letters, emails, transcriptions of oral testimonies and instructive oral sources, and some artifacts, such as photos and, for ICWES VIII, recorded tapes and their (partial) transcription.

Aspects of the first twelve proceedings have been written in the book published in 2024, but important topics remain to be investigated, such as:

  • Evolution of the “women in STEM” question and outreach over 50 years.
  • The international impact of the ICWES conferences on women in STEM issues.
  • Contribution by women to knowledge and technologies in STEM fields.
  • Reciprocal relationships between science and society.
  • Contributions to Women Studies and ecofeminism.
  • Evolution of the North and South, East and West dialogues between participants.
  • Evolution in times of transversal issues (p. ex. technological development, the environment, communications, activism, …).