The OWSD newsletter brings you the latest news and announcements from the Secretariat and from our international network. In this edition, we share the results of the OWSD Presidential and Vice Presidential elections, introduce you to a creative new venture in filmmaking, meet two OWSD fellows as well as many recent PhD graduates, and more.
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The OWSD newsletter brings you the latest news and announcements from the Secretariat and from our international network. In this edition, we share the results of the OWSD Presidential and Vice Presidential elections, introduce you to a creative new venture in filmmaking, meet two OWSD fellows as well as many recent PhD graduates, and more.

OWSD Executive Board Elections 2021-2025

OWSD Executive Board

· Jennifer Thomson re-elected OWSD President

· OWSD regional Vice Presidents elected

OWSD Executive Board

· Elections open for OWSD Regional Members

OWSD Executive Board

Introducing the
OWSD Visions film series



PhD Fellowship

OWSD filmmaker Nicole Leghissa worked with National Chapters in Cameroon, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, to produce five short films about inspiring women scientists.

Celebrating recent OWSD PhD graduates



PhD Fellowship

We celebrate the new graduates who have managed to graduate with their PhDs in recent months, despite COVID-related setbacks to their research and the cancellation of graduation ceremonies.

During the OWSD Visions project, I learned many different things including how to properly conduct an interview, how to take good video shots, and most importantly how to be focused. I have learned to be more focused and steady and this applies even in my daily life and career. I appreciate the opportunity given to me to part of this project.

Doris Ayaba Awa, student researcher from Cameroon and participant in the OWSD Visions project

Launch of the UNESCO Science Report, with chapter on women in the digital revolution

The UNESCO Science Report 2021 was released on June 11. This seventh edition of the report monitors trends in science governance worldwide and explores how countries are using science to realize a digitally and ecologically smart future. The report contains a chapter on women in STEM,'To be smart, the digital revolution will need to be inclusive,' co-authored by OWSD Coordinator Tonya Blowers.

Meet the OWSD Fellows

Maryse Nkoua Ngavouka


Maryse Nkoua Ngavouka, an experimental physicist from the Congo, recently completed her Early Career fellowship with OWSD, awarded in 2018. Find out what inspired her to go into physics, how the OWSD fellowship has helped her establish her lab, and what her goals are for the future of her project.

Faten Bashar Kamal Eddin


Faten Bashar Kamal Eddin, a PhD fellow from Syria, is currently completing a full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, where she is using nanomaterials to improve the sensitivity of a sensor to detect and diagnose dopamine deficiences. We checked in with her to find out how her research is going, what she hopes to do after her PhD, and more.

OWSD Applauds

Estefanía Espín

@EstefanaEspin · Jun 3

Anoche estuvimos alrededor de 40 científicas de diversas áreas en la Primera Asamblea del Capítulo Ecuador de la OWSD. Una gran alegría empezar a trabajar juntas por las mujeres en ciencia con una visión interseccional e impacto internacional
@OWSDSecretariat @CientificasEC
pic.twitter.com/WEJsAStM97

17  83 

In this corner we highlight some of the most exciting recent achievements of our fellows, alumnae, and awardees. Way to go, ladies!


OWSD Around the World

Here are a few recent highlights from our network of 40 active National Chapters.

New National Chapters
launched in Bolivia, Central Asia, and Colombia


  • The OWSD Bolivia National Chapter was established in March 2021 with 123 members; it is the 7th National Chapter in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • The OWSD Central Asia National Chapter was established in March 2021 with 31 members; it is the 11th National Chapter in the Asia Pacific region, and the first in Central Asia, uniting members in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

  • The OWSD Colombia National Chapter was established in May 2021 with 72 members. It is the 8th National Chapter in Latin America and the Caribbean; all 8 Chapters have been formed since 2019.

OWSD Nepal logo

The OWSD Nepal National Chapter celebrated World Water Day on March 22, together with the Nepal Fisheries Society (NEFIS) and ESORCE, with a panel of presentations on various aspects of water health and management, including dams and the threat to fish diversity in Nepal, urban wastewater management, and water and sanitation in connection to climate change.

OWSD Ecuador logo

The OWSD Ecuador National Chapter held a logo design contest for their chapter throughout March and April, asking for contributions from undergraduate and graduate students interested in equity issues in academia and science. The winning logo by Roberth Armando Cevallos Ruano, representing the diversity of Ecuadorian women scientists and of the country, can be seen on their National Chapter profile page. [Es]

OWSD Pakistan logo

The OWSD Pakistan National Chapter organized two separate series of virtual lectures, in April on 'Women Scientists Through Journeys of Challenges/ Success' and in May on 'Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in Pakistan'.

OWSD Zimbabwe logo

The OWSD Zimbabwe National Chapter held a discussion in April on 'Incorporating fitness into your everyday life', with a presentation on the science behind the importance of regular exercise, good nutrition, getting enough sleep, and other healthy practices.

OWSD Colombia logo

The OWSD Colombia National Chapter, after launching in May, published a statement about the importance of creating opportunities for women scientists in the country and in the Global South as a whole, and about the central role that networks play in connecting and empowering women. [Es]

OWSD Nigeria logo

The OWSD Nigeria National Chapter - Port Harcourt branch continued their series of scientific lectures throughout April and May with presentations on such topics as 'Vaccine hesitance: Make informed decisions', 'Digital immigrant continuum: The place of women in STEM', and 'Early introduction of coding and robotics is key to eliciting girl-child interest in tech fields'.

OWSD Guatemala logo

The OWSD Guatemala National Chapter, after launching in March 2020 with 53 members, celebrated reaching 400 members in May, making it the third largest OWSD National Chapter.


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