The First International Conference on Women in Physics

The First International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP) that was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, March 7 - 9, 2002. Organized at the call of the IUPAP Working Group on Women in Phyics, the Conference brought together more than 300 participants from 65 countries. The purpose of this Conference was multifold:

• to review data on international women in physics,
• to discuss barriers preventing women from getting into and staying in physics,
• to share success stories,
• to propose ways to improve women's participation in physics globally,
• to develop resolutions for action by the IUPAP General Assembly, and
• to help international delegations to the Conference to develop appropriate strategies to improve the status of women in physics in their home countries.

The 12-member U.S. Delegation brought back a number of important messages and set off to follow the Conference resolutions while also disseminating the knowledge gained while in Paris. A summary of the Conference, the U.S. Delegation, as well as the U.S. and international efforts to disseminate the results of the First ICWIP can be found on the page of Dr. Meg Urry (Yale University) who served as the leader of the U.S. Delegation to this Conference.