About OWSD
About OWSD
OWSD provides research training and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world at different stages in their careers.
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OWSD has been working hard in Asia and the Pacific since 1997 to improve the number and quality of women scientists. OWSD Vice President Atya Kapley is from India. Our fellowships programme has provided full PhD scholarships to over 50 women from 3 Least Developed Countries in the Asia and Pacific region, namely Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal, and students have taken up their scholarships at excellent host institutes in China, India and Malaysia.

Asia & Pacific

Coordinator: Atya Kapley
atya.owsd@gmail.com

Women scientists, especially from low income countries, need recognition and support

In 27 Countries

News & Events

See all the News & Events

Countries

India

296 Members

1 PhD Fellow

1 PhD Graduate

1 Awardee

The OWSD India National Chapter (NCI-OWSD) was founded in 2006 and supports members by providing opportunities for networking, including participation in national and international conferences, workshops and lectures where women scientists can showcase their work.

Contact person:

Dr. Kaiser Jamil
kaiser.jamil@gmail.com

Pakistan

190 Members

1 Awardee

The OWSD Pakistan National Chapter was established in March 2019. It is hosted at the Karachi Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) at the University of Karachi. The National Chapter's activities include organizing conferences, seminars and workshops for knowledge dissemination, developing cooperative projects with universities and instructors, and developing the culture of scientific awareness at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.

Contact person:

Dr. Saima Saleem
owsdpakistanchapter@gmail.com

Bangladesh

185 Members

11 PhD Fellows

28 PhD Graduates

3 Early Career Fellows

5 Awardees

The OWSD Bangladesh National Chapter was founded in 2009 and is based in Dhaka at the Institute of Science and Technology.The organization is particularly active in the areas of participation, integration, attrition, and professional development.

Contact person:

Prof. Dr. Shahida Rafique
owsdncbd@gmail.com

Indonesia

105 Members

4 Awardees

The OWSD Indonesia National Chapter, established in 2018, is hosted at the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember in Surabaya. The National Chapter aims to initiate Indonesian women into a culture of scientific excellence, to support women scientists in their many roles, including in the family, and to contribute to the unification of the nation. Its activities include capacity-building for members, including providing leadership skills training and networking opportunities, as well as training of teachers in remote areas and of female youth.

Contact person:

Sri Fatmawati
humas@its.ac.id

Sri Lanka

95 Members

4 Early Career Fellows

1 Awardee

The Sri Lanka National Chapter of OWSD (SLNC-OWSD) was launched on 29 March 2018, under the umbrella of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL). The aim of the SLNC-OWSD is to promote female participation in science and technology, in scientific leadership and decision-making processes, both at national and international levels.

Contact person:

Hermali Silva
srilankanowsd@gmail.com

Thejani Nilusha Rathmalgodage

Engineering sciences

Shalini Abeysinghe

Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Poorni Perera

Computing and Information Technology

Yasith Mathangasinghe

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Asha Dona

Biological Systems and Organisms

Dulharie Wijeratne

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Anuradha Ariyaratne

Computing and Information Technology

Milani Tharuka

Engineering sciences

Malaysia

89 Members

8 PhD Fellows

8 PhD Graduates

1 Awardee

The OWSD Malaysia National Chapter was founded in 2011 and is based in Kuala Lumpur. The chapter aims to act as a platform - and a champion - to facilitate changes to the socio-economic structure, paving the way for women to excel and thrive in S&T.

Contact person:

Prof. Dr. Lim Yang Mooi
ymlim@utar.edu.my

Fatehah Mohd Omar

Engineering sciences

Kalaivani Nadarajah

Biological Systems and Organisms

Nallammai Singaram

Agricultural Sciences

Dayang Norulfairuz Abang Zaidel

Engineering sciences

Wan Nordiana Rahman

Nur Haliza Hassan

Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Zanariah Mohd

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Maisara Shahrom Raja Shahrom

Chemical Sciences

Nepal

79 Members

2 PhD Fellows

3 PhD Graduates

4 Early Career Fellows

2 Awardees

The OWSD Nepal National Chapter was established in February 2020, and is hosted at the Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences. Among the National Chapter's objectives are enhancing the participation of women in scientific and technological research in Nepal, empowering women scientists to take on decision-making roles in Nepal, establishing networking betwen women scientists in Nepal, and promoting the recognition of the scientific and technological achievements of Nepalese women scientists.

Contact person:

Sushila Pandit
owsd.nepal@gmail.com

Iran, Isl. Rep.

35 Members

The OWSD Iran National Chapter is based at the Department of Biology at Arak University in Arak.

Contact person:

Dr. Mitra Noori
m-noori@araku.ac.ir

Myanmar

34 Members

4 PhD Fellows

19 PhD Graduates

The OWSD Myanmar National Chapter was founded in June 2018. Its primary goals and activities are to provide networking opportunities and information sharing between scientists and researchers in Myanmar, in order to increase women’s participation in the governance and administration of science as well as in technical research. It aims to build a strong network to share resources and knowledge between National Chapter members and international OWSD members. The Myanmar National Chapter is hosted at the Plant Biotechnology Center, Mingalardon Township, Yangon, Myanmar.

Contact person:

Nyo Nyo Mar
owsd.mya.nc@gmail.com

China

23 Members

2 PhD Graduates

The OWSD China National Chapter (CNOWSD) was founded in 2009 and is based at the Institute of Policy and Management of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. www.twows.org.cn

Contact person:

Prof. Fang Xin
fangxin@cashq.ac.cn
T.+86-10-68597519

Uzbekistan

17 Members

1 Awardee

There is no OWSD national chapter in this country at present. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Turkey

20 Members

1 PhD Graduate

The OWSD Turkey National Chapter was established in February 2019. It is hosted by the Faculty of Pharmacy at Gazi University in Ankara.

Contact person:

Ilkay Erdogan Orhan
ncturkey.owsd@gazi.edu.tr

Ayşegül H. Mendi

Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Esra Bilir

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Ilkay Orhan

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Mais Aljunaidy

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Ayşenur Gençdoğmuş

Engineering sciences

Gokcen Eren

Ipek Suntar

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

Bensu Karahalil

Biological Systems and Organisms

OTHER COUNTRIES

62 Members

The OWSD Turkey National Chapter was established in February 2019. It is hosted by the Faculty of Pharmacy at Gazi University in Ankara.

Here are all the countries in this region that currently have less than 20 members. To find out more about setting up a national chapter please read the National Chapter Guidelines.

Fatema Roshan

Agricultural Sciences

Aishath Naila

Chemical Sciences

Munavvara Dzhuraeva

Agricultural Sciences

Success stories

When I got my OWSD fellowship, it was an amazing feeling. Before getting the letter, my academic career was a dream, the letter made it possible.

Eassa Nashwa

Physics

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OWSD's guidance and support allowed me to uncover hidden courage and realize aspects of myself that I never thought I possessed.

Mohamed Elhag Muna

Agricultural Sciences

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OWSD fellowship represents a real empowering difference in my life and career

Basaleem Huda

Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences

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" I can boldly declare that OWSD rewarded my brilliance thus giving me recognition and confidence in my professional arena and placed me in national and international scientific communities.”

Mahfuza Mahfuza Begum

Agricultural Sciences

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The OWSD award helped me not only to become the researcher I am today, but also to become a leader in research.

Banu Salina Parvin

Agricultural Sciences

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OWSD has provided tremendous support in shaping my career as a researcher, science ambassador, role model for women scientists and a "think high" human being.

Mumtaz Tabassum

Biological Systems and Organisms

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I really want to do something for my country. Being part of the Sudan national chapter has given me that chance.

Saad Dalia

Chemical Sciences

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Winning this award opened many doors for me. It has led to success in acquiring local funding.

Badal Simone

Chemical Sciences

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The long-awaited dream

Bancole W. Bernice Armelle

Agricultural Sciences

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All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.

Dzesse Tekouo Christelle Noelle

Chemical Sciences

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“Am very proud to say that I am encouraging other Cameroonian female scientists to apply for the OWSD fellowship programme and some of them have obtained the grant."

Nyamen Mbong Linda Dyorisse

Chemical Sciences

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"I owe ‘what’, ‘who’ and ‘where’ I am in my career and professional practice today to OWSD because without the PHD Fellowship, all my achievements today would have been nothing but bleak"

Baba Marycelin

Biological Systems and Organisms

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