Women play vital roles in every facet of modern society. In numerous areas of scientific and technological development, women have historically been responsible for crucial advances, yet they remain severely under-represented in all major scientific areas.

There have been improvements in access for women to science over the last two decades, but many female students at School and University still find the prospect of a career in science to be profoundly unappealing. It is essential that the barriers that discourage women from studying science and choosing it as a career are identified and overcome.

As part of a Comenius3-funded project, the Hands-on Science (H-Sci) network is promoting a second international discussion forum on the access of women to science wittin the 3rd International Conference on Hands-on Science. As in previous forum in June 2004 in Cologne, Germany, and last year in Braga, Portugal the forum will bring together scientists, teachers and students, politicians, representatives of women’s rights groups, those who are active in devising national education policies, and delegates from the industrial sector and employers. The forum will be practical in outlook, with a strong emphasis on identifying problems and considering how they should be tackled. Its aim is to develop realistic and far-reaching proposals that will be effective in attracting women into science and increasing the proportion of them who remain active in the subject.

If you would like to present a communication specifically to this workshop please send the abstract electronically and thereafter please forward the confirmation email back to mfcosta.hsci@gmail.com indicating the name of the workshop.