WOMEN'S DAY EVENT 2005

1. Raising Awareness of Science Careers

A morning event will be directed at school girls from grades 9 through to 12 from a range of schools in the Western Cape. We will have interactive displays that will engage the girls in various aspects of Science, and also ensure that Science career information is provided. To facilitate the girls' experiences with the displays, we intend employing about 25 women postgraduates from the various tertiary institutions in the Western Cape to each take groups of about 20 girls around the displays i.e. as chaperones/guides.

Interspersed with the displays we will have posters made by women postgraduates (presented in a popular manner) about their "cutting edge research". We intend asking these postgraduates to also stand at their posters so that they can chat to the girls casually about Science, research and "why it is they do what they do". We believe that it is important for the learners to see that Science is a growing body of knowledge and that new research contributes to it- and that they too can contribute someday.

We believe that the women postgraduates will also benefit by networking with other postgraduates from other tertiary institutions. Twelve of the postgraduate research posters will be selected for our SAWISE website and perhaps also for a 2006 calendar.

During the morning we will also have a series of structured talks by selected "role models", such as women postgraduates, and women who have successful Science careers (e.g., geologist, engineer, computer programmer, archaeologist, astronomer etc.).

2. Celebration of Women in Science and Engineering

The afternoon session will be for women professionals in Science / Academia / Business. Here we will have a series of talks by three high profile invited keynote speakers who will deal with various issues women face in their careers such as managing one's career, the glass ceiling, networking etc. We will also have an interactive workshop that will focus on many of the problems women face in their work environment. In the evening we will host a cocktail function. Registration fee: R100.

Draft Program:

1. Raising awareness of Science careers

08h50 Welcoming of visitors by SAWISE President

09h00 Postgrad 1 "Why I chose maths/engineering"

09h15 Postgrad 2 " Why I chose entomology"

09h30 Postgrad 3 "Why I chose archaeology/physiology"

09:45 - 10:00 Refreshments and tours around postgraduate posters: General posters about science careers, interactive displays, postgraduate research posters.

12:00 Role model 1 (Why I chose maths/physics)

12:15 Role model 2 (Why I chose geology)

12:30 Role model 3 (Why I chose engineering/astronomy/analytical chemistry)

12:45 Thanks and Departure of learners.

2. Celebrating women in Science and Engineering

13:00 Registration of participants for afternoon workshop: Viewing of postgrad posters (Postgrads to be at posters for discussion)

13:45 Welcome by SAWISE President

14:00 Dr. Mamphela Ramphela, Co-Chair of the Global Commission on International Migration and Chair: Circle Capital Ventures. "Glass ceiling"

14:30 Lucienne Abrahams, Dept. of Science and Technology, Chair of SARG (South African Reference Group for Women) "Developing Networks"

15:00 Tea/Coffee and poster viewing

15:30 Dr. Dahlia Garwe, Head of Biotechnology, Tobacco Board of Zimbabwe "Career management/career decisions"

16:00 Interactive workshop on "Micro-politics women face in their workplace" run by Lesley Shackleton, Sarah Riordan, and Desireé Simonis of HERS-SA.

17:00 Chaired Panel discussion

17:30 Poster judging

18:00 Cocktails & AGM : Announcement of winning posters