Membership
How to join?
To join OWSD, please click on the BECOME MEMBER button below to fill in the online application form.
Step-by-step guidelines for the membership application process can be found here.
In case you wish to re-activate your OWSD membership account, you just need to log in with your username and password.
For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about OWSD Membership click here.
Should you have any questions or if you are unable to register online, please contact the OWSD Secretariat by e-mail: membership@owsd.net
*Please note that approval time usually takes a few days, but can take up to 2-3 weeks.
Please note before you begin your membership application that you will need a copy of your highest degree certificate; a copy of each degree certificate including lower degrees is preferred. Please also note that the name and surname used to register must match the ones on your degree certificate. Should this not be the case, please provide any official documentary evidence confirming the change of the name.
IMPORTANT: Please avoid using website translators when filling out your membership application form as these conflict with our system, causing difficulties in saving and/or submitting the application.
Members may also join their National Chapters if one is available in their country. To see current National Chapters, click here. If there are more than 20 members in your country and no National Chapter already exists, members can get organized to set it up.
Currently OWSD has more than 8,400 members - click here to see all of them. Over 80% of OWSD members are women living and working in developing countries who have Masters or Doctorates in scientific subjects. Each member has the potential to contribute significantly to the technological advancement and economic growth of their countries. OWSD members can network face to face through activities organised by their National Chapters, or through Regional and International conferences, as well as online through this website.
Membership Categories
Full members are women scientists from developing countries who have completed a master’s degree or higher in the natural sciences (including engineering, technology and innovation) or social sciences and who are committed to the objectives of OWSD. Click here to see the list of full members. Full members can vote in the OWSD General Assemblies to elect new members of the OWSD executive board; this is the only category with voting rights.
Affiliate members are women scientists from developing countries who have completed a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in the natural sciences (including engineering, technology and innovation) or social sciences and who are committed to the objectives of OWSD. Affiliate members can advance to become Full Members upon completion of a master’s degree (or equivalent) and, consequentially, will receive voting rights.
Friends of OWSD are women and men from developed and developing countries with at least an undergraduate degree (or equivalent experience) across all disciplines (including the natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities), who are committed to promoting the objectives of OWSD and who are not eligible for the Affiliate or Full membership categories. Friends of OWSD are encouraged to engage with OWSD and its members through other support activities (mentoring, fundraising, networking, promoting).
