OWSD 7th General Assembly - in partnership with the Third Interregional Dialogue on Education and Development
A week of reflection, strategy, and global collaboration
OWSD Secretariat
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is convening its 7th General Assembly and International Conference in Bogotá, November 3-7, 2025 at EAN University.
The week-long Assembly is an opportunity for OWSD to reflect on past achievements and chart its future direction. It will also serve as a strategic platform for members, fellows, National Chapters, and partners to define how OWSD can strengthen its role as a preeminent global advocate for women in science.
Strength in Collaboration
To amplify its impact, OWSD has joined forces with the Third Interregional Dialogue on Education and Development, co-organized by the Government of Colombia (as pro tempore presidency of CELAC), the African Union, OBREAL, the Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN), and the Association of African Universities (AAU).
A Week of Synergies and Impact
Running in parallel, these two major events will create a Week of Synergies and Impact, with exclusive sessions for OWSD members and joint sessions uniting policymakers, academic leaders, researchers, and innovators from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe.
Exclusive OWSD sessions will focus on governance and strategy. Members will welcome the newly elected Executive Board and there will be open panels and workshops with Dialogue participants to encourage collaboration and fresh perspectives.
Workshops and Panels
With an inaugural address from H.E. Francia Márquez, Vice President of Colombia, joint sessions will tackle shared priorities and foster stronger interregional cooperation with workshops focussing on Dismantling Gender Barriers in STEM and Data for Policy: Women, Inclusion, and Science. Further workshops on AI for Local Development, Peace-building and Resilience, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems will spotlight how science and education can drive social transformation.
Celebrating Outstanding Women in Science
The penultimate evening sees the OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Awards ceremony. These awards recognise the outstanding scientific careers of women scientists from the developing world.
The conference will close on November 7 with a joint roadmap outlining shared priorities for inclusive, sustainable, and interregional collaboration for women in science.
A full conference itinerary can be found, below.