Support Network for Iraqi Women Scientists

Planning Meeting, February 22, 2007

After concerns about the obstacles faced by Iraqi women scientists, engineers, and health professionals were raised with the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the NAS, NAE, and IOM by academy members Vera Rubin (NAS) and Maxine Singer (NAS/IOM) the CHR and the Committee for International Security and Arms Control have undertaken to build a support network for Iraqi women colleagues. More than fifty women members of the National Academies have volunteered to be “twinned.” The first planning meeting for this project brought together staff and members of the National Academies, Iraqi scientists living in the Washington, D.C. area, and private and governmental organizations involved with assisting Iraqi colleagues. The meeting was held on February 22^nd in Washington, DC.