Association for Women in Science

Association for Women in Science
Name	Association for Women in Science
Abbreviation	AWIS
Formation	1971
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	United States
Location	Washington, D.C.
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	Scientists, engineers, administrators

Association for Women in Science is a professional organization founded in 1971 to advance women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by promoting equity, policy change, and leadership development. The organization engages with universities, corporations, funding agencies, and legislative bodies to influence hiring, funding, and workplace practices while connecting members through local chapters and national programs. AWIS works alongside advocacy groups, scholarly societies, and philanthropic foundations to address barriers faced by women across career stages.

History

The organization's origins trace to meetings influenced by the women's movement and legislative shifts such as the Title IX debates and the work of scholars reacting to disparities highlighted by reports like those from the National Research Council and the National Science Foundation. Early founders drew on networks associated with institutions like Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and advocacy efforts connected to figures at Smith College and Wellesley College. AWIS engaged with policy processes involving the U.S. Congress, the White House, and agencies such as the National Institutes of Health to push for equitable grant practices and anti-discrimination enforcement, interacting with organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, and the National Academy of Sciences. Over decades AWIS responded to societal and legal shifts including rulings by the United States Supreme Court and federal initiatives by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and adapted programs in dialogue with foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Mission and Advocacy

AWIS frames its mission around improving representation and retention of women at institutions like Stanford University, Columbia University, University of Michigan, and within companies such as Google, Microsoft, Pfizer, and IBM. It advocates policy changes that intersect with funding agencies like the National Endowment for the Humanities and international bodies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the European Commission. AWIS conducts advocacy on issues before bodies including the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and engages with nonprofit partners like the Society of Women Engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Biophysical Society, and the Optical Society. The organization addresses workplace equity concerns arising in contexts related to awards such as the Nobel Prize, the Lasker Award, the MacArthur Fellowship, and fellowship programs at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Programs and Initiatives

AWIS runs leadership and mentoring initiatives connecting participants with professional development models used at institutions such as Princeton University, Yale University, and Johns Hopkins University. Programs include career workshops modeled after curricula from the Kellogg School of Management and collaborations with training providers including LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and university continuing education units. AWIS develops resources for grant-writing and negotiation informed by practices at the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and partners with advocacy campaigns tied to organizations such as the American Association of University Women and the Center for American Progress. Initiatives target career stages from graduate students at University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania to early-career researchers at national laboratories like Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and to senior leaders in corporations like Intel Corporation and Boeing.

Membership and Chapters

AWIS maintains national and regional chapters affiliated with metropolitan and academic centers including Boston University, University of California, San Diego, University of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. Membership spans practitioners associated with research institutes such as the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and museums like the Smithsonian Institution. The chapter model mirrors networks used by organizations like the AAAS and the American Mathematical Society, facilitating local events, mentorship circles, and collaborations with student groups at California Institute of Technology, Duke University, and Brown University.

Governance and Funding

AWIS is governed by a board of directors and executive officers who interact with governance norms used at nonprofits such as the American Red Cross and the Nature Conservancy. Funding mixes individual membership dues, philanthropic grants from entities like the Gates Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, corporate sponsorships from firms such as Merck & Co. and Amazon, and project grants from agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The organization aligns budgeting and compliance with standards overseen by regulators like the Internal Revenue Service and reporting norms promoted by associations such as the Council on Foundations and audit practices common to universities like Rutgers University.

Impact and Recognition

AWIS has influenced institutional policies at universities such as Cornell University and University of California, Los Angeles and corporate practices at firms including General Electric and Siemens, and its efforts have been cited in reports by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and think tanks like the Brookings Institution. Members have received honors from organizations such as the National Medal of Science, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and awards conferred by the American Chemical Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. AWIS’s programs have contributed to measurable changes in representation documented in surveys by the National Science Foundation, studies published in journals like Science and Nature, and analyses appearing in outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States