Travel Awards for Women in International Scientific Research

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Directorate for International Programs announces the Women's International Science Collaboration (WISC) Program for 2001-2003. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), this program aims to increase the participation of women in international scientific research by helping establish new research partnerships with colleagues in Central/Eastern Europe, Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union, Near East, Middle East, Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Small grants ($4,000-5,000) will provide travel and living support for a U.S. scientist and, when appropriate, a co-PI to visit a partner country to develop a research program. Funds can also be used to support a second visit to the partner country or for a foreign partner to travel to the U.S.

Men and women scientists who have their Ph.D. or equivalent research experience are eligible to apply. Applicants who have received their doctoral degrees within the past six years will receive special consideration, as will scientists applying to work with colleagues in less frequently represented countries and regions. With the exception of applications involving the Americas, applications from male co-PIs must be accompanied by an application from a female co-PI as part of a U.S. research team (please contact M. Ratchford, see below, regarding special guidelines for the Americas). Male and female graduate students (Ph.D. candidates) are also eligible to apply, if they will be conducting research in an established Ph.D. program in the U.S. and will be traveling with their Ph.D. advisor and will serve as co-PI on future proposals. (Male graduate students will need a female co-PI.)

Only fields funded by the National Science Foundation and interdisciplinary research cutting across these fields are eligible. For further information, please visit the NSF website (http://www.nsf.gov), or contact one of the AAAS administrators listed below.

Two competitions will be held, with application deadlines of January 15, 2002 and July 15, 2002. Approximately 40 awards will be made in each competition.

For further application information and region-specific guidelines, please visit http://www.aaas.org/international/wiscnew.shtml or contact the appropriate AAAS administrator:

  • Central and Eastern Europe, Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union: Karen Grill, kgrill@aaas.org, (202) 326-7027.
  • East Asia and Pacific: Suteera Nagavajara, snagavaj@aaas.org, (202) 326-6496.
  • Africa, Middle East, Near East, and South Asia: Alan Bornbusch, abornbus@aaas.org, (202) 326-6651.
  • Americas and Caribbean: Marina Ratchford, mratchfo@aaas.org, (202) 326-6490.

Or, please write to (AAAS contact), WISC Travel Grant, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Directorate for International Programs, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20005.