Registered NGO:

Societies Reg. Act 1860 Regd. No. BOM 193/73 GBBSD dt. 13/6/73. BOM Public Trust Act 1950 Regd. No. F-2931(Bom)dt. 19/7/73.

ASSOCIATION (IWSA)SCIENTISTS'WOMENINDIAN

Indian Women Scientists' Association (IWSA) is a representative body for women working in natural, physical and applied sciences, and is an all-India social welfare, non-political, non-profit NGO. Registered in 1973, IWSA was started by a group of twelve young committed scientists. Today we have nearly 2,500 members in different parts of the country.

IWSA has ten branches with its headquarters in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Our branches are in: Roorkee (1979), Hyderabad (1979), Pune (1980), Nagpur (1982), Kolhapur (1982), Delhi (1987), Kalpakkam (1987), Baroda (1988), Lucknow (1997) and Amravati (2010).

Who we are

What we stand for

What we do

IWSA'S Working Women’s Hostel

Our main activities include:

• Community Activities

• Science Education

• Science Popularization

• On-campus Initiatives

INDIAN WOMEN SCIENTISTS' ASSOCIATION (IWSA)

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

At IWSA, we have made it our mission:

• To take science to the masses.

• To develop a scientific temper in society by disseminating scientific knowledge through lectures, seminars, exhibitions, workshops, etc.

• To promote accomplishments in Science and Technology among women.

• To understand socio-economic issues of working women, and empower them by providing knowledge and experience.

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To provide safe and secure accommodation to working women / students coming to Mumbai from different parts of India.

IWSA’s Jitendra Mafatlal Mehta and Shree Mahalaxmi Temple Charities Wing of the Working Women's Hostel

The accommodation is open to women from the ages of 18-60 years earning a gross salary of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month.

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To provide pre-school facilities for toddlers between 2 and 4½ years old.

A natural step-up for kids from IWSA's Day Care Centre.Facility is staffed with well-trained teachers who use the play way method to nurture creativity and logical thinking in the youngsters.Academic year is from June to April.

The Hostel comes with a:

• 160 bedded, safe haven – 'home away from home'

• In-house mess

• TV room

• WiFi connection and CCTV monitoring

• Beautiful garden

For more details write to : iwsahostelvashi@gmail.com or call 022 27662136.

A 1-year vocational training for women.

IWSA's Nursery / Creche Training of Teachers (TOT) Diploma Course:

This is a full time one year Diploma course affiliated with the SNDT Women's University. This course empowers women, besides introducing them to many scientific concepts like child development, nutrition, health, hygiene and environment.

The academic year is from June to April.

• Medium of instruction: English

• Eligibility: S.S.C.

• Age limit: None

To provide day care facilities for young children of working mothers.

This facility is open from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm for children between 6 months – 10 years (13 years for girls).

Salient features of our centre include:

• A play area with an attached kitchenette and dining corner

• An open courtyard for outdoor activities

• Caregivers: trained supervisors and maids

• Celebration of different Indian festivals

• Training in arts, crafts, reading and writing skills

• Annual dental and health check-ups

• Picnic / field visits and regular meeting with parents

For more information call us at 022-27899705.

IWSA's G. M. Abhyankar Day Care Centre

IWSA's Mrs. Indirabai Padhye Nursery School

IWSA's Training of Teachers

IWSA's Murli Laj Chugani Health Care Centre

IWSA's Pirojsha Godrej Foundation Science Library

Course on Ethics in Science and Technology

SCIENCE EDUCATION & SCIENCE POPULARIZATION

To provide some of the basic health care facilities to people in the locality.

The salient features of our health care centre are:• Well-trained staff including a dentist, a physiotherapist, and a homeopath• Annual free cancer detection camp• Check-ups for bone density, health and dental camps • Lectures on different health-related topics For appointments call 022 27899706 (4 pm to 8 pm).

After the Triennial conference on this theme in 2011, IWSA now conducts annually a course on this all-important subject. Here we cover a wide array of themes across different scientific areas.

To provide library and reading room facilities for residents of Navi Mumbai / Mumbai.

Funded by the Directorate of Libraries, Govt. of Maharashtra, our library cum reading room is stocked with periodicals and books on a variety of subjects, including popular science books. Books are available in a variety of languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati.

• Timings: 11 am to 8 pm

• Open to: men, women and children

An annual course on Ethics in Science and Technology for scientists, teachers and graduate students.

IWSA conducts courses, seminars, lectures, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions and science camps to spread awareness in different areas of science.

An yearly exhibition "Rainbow" brings together children and teachers from different schools for an update on new methods of teaching, children's books and educational kits.

IWSA also conducts computer courses for young and senior members of society.

IWSA members motivate students from nearby schools by conducting science experiments.

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To organize exciting laboratory sessions for students and teachers alike.

This programme organizes laboratory sessions for students and teachers on a regular basis. We hold:

• Science Nurture Programme: for middle school students from an underprivileged background with limitations in English language. The emphasis here is on experiments, hands-on activities and the English language.

• IWSA’s Sunday Science Club in collaboration with TechShiksha (www.techshiksha.com): this exposes school students to exciting science / technology action based projects.

To equip teachers with the latest in different areas of science.

Financially supported by the three National Science Academies, IWSA has been conducting refresher courses for college teachers across the country.

The workshops are given wide publicity to ensure good participation.

• Lectures are delivered by experienced and eminent scientists and IWSA members from renowned institutions.

• Demonstrations or hands on experiments accompany the lectures.

• Duration: Short term programs.

• Till date, Biotechnology, Physics and Bioinformatics programs have been conducted.

To showcase cutting-edge science being conducted by Indian scientists, especially women scientists and to encourage a scientific temper in young minds.

Supported by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), our Popular Science Lecture Series is regularly conducted in colleges all over Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The objectives of this programme are to showcase the important work of Indian women/men scientists and project them as role models, inform students about new and exciting developments in science, attract students to careers in basic and applied sciences, appraise them about job opportunities and encourage students to develop a scientific temper.

Refresher courses

Popular Science Lecture Series

IWSA's Mr. Vasudeo Bhide and Dr. Sumati BhideScience Laboratory

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IWSA's Satish Haware Computer Education Centre

Rainwater Harvesting

Solar Energy

Solid Waste Management

We offer a variety of courses including: A certificate course in IT, Office Automation, Web Designing, Graphic designing, Internet skills, Scratch Tally, 2D, 3D animation, Advanced Excel, C, C++, VB, JAVA, Android and Python.

The newly-launched Cyber Olympiads training program is open to school students. We also have fast track vacation workshops in web designing using HTML animation and games using JAVA Script etc.

• Eligibility: open to all including students, professionals, homemakers and senior citizens

To offer a variety of computer courses for all members of society from young students to senior citizens.

In order to conserve water, rainwater is collected in an underground tank and then utilized for requirements other than drinking purposes.

Our initiatives on campus help to create awareness on various technology applications with direct impact on our environment. Some of these have been enlisted below:

In order to reduce carbon footprints, a solar water heating system has been installed at the IWSA working women’s hostel. This helps us save energy consumed by water heaters.

Our on-campus biogas demo Nisargruna plant (50 Kg capacity) for biomethanation helps to treat the biodegradable kitchen waste generated at IWSA.This plant is based on the technology developed at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, and donated by Hemendra Kothari Foundation.

The biogas generated is used in the hostel kitchen and the manure in our garden. All the glass/metal/paper material is recycled leaving our campus near “zero garbage” campus.

ON CAMPUS INITIATIVES

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Conferences are organized by IWSA at its headquarters and branches at regular intervals. The themes of these conferences are geared to encourage women in science and to bring them on a common platform.

Matching with our overall objectives, IWSA's Branches are actively involved in a variety of science activities.

Conferences

IWSA scholarships/awards are given from generous donations from our well-wishers. These awards are given annually on merit-cum-need basis to girl students pursuing science education at different levels, computer courses and teacher training courses. Applications are invited once in a year through information on the IWSA website and advertisements sent to colleges.

Scholarships / Awards

IWSA's Branches across India

IWSA publishes a quarterly newsletter with information about our on-going activities at our Vashi headquarters and our branches. It also includes articles on different scientific areas of current interest.

IWSA’s Newsletter

Membership at IWSA is open to all women graduates and/or diploma holders in basic and applied sciences. Associate membership is offered to all women who are interested in science.

For more information, or details about how you could join us, visit our website at www.iwsa.net

Join Us at IWSA

All our activities are made possible through generous donations. We accept donations in Indian and Foreign currencies. Donations to IWSA are exempt under 80G (section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961). Cheques/DD’s are to be made in the name of “Indian Women Scientists’ Association”. For direct transfers please contact IWSA office at iwsahq@gmail.com for bank details.

Appeal for Donations

An environment-friendly solution for the disposal of soiled sanitary napkins has been installed in the hostel. It is a simple, safe and hygienic way to dispose the napkins. On incineration, the sanitary napkins are converted into ash within a few minutes, without any foul smell or smoke.

Our campus has a number of specially cultivated and nurtured plants from shrubs and flowering plants to full grown trees. These plants are used to educate school children/teachers and visitors to our campus.

Incinerator to Dispose Sanitary Napkins

IWSA’s Garden

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• Skill development through environment friendly courses.

• Virtual Science Laboratory for VIIth to Xth standard students from Semi-English medium schools.

• “Rugnasahayak” (Nurse Aid’s) Course with recognized certification.

• Personality development, communication skills and stress management programs forunder - privileged school students.

To work towards promoting:-

• Science for Society

• Science for Empowerment

• Science for Sustainability

Published by: Dr. Devaki Ramanathan, President, IWSA; Plot No.20, Sector 10A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400703.

Printed by: Prudent Arts & Fab Pvt. Ltd., A-221, TTC Industrial Area, M.I.D.C. Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400701, Tel: 61119001 / 02

FOUNDER MEMBERS OF IWSA

IWSA Head Office, Plot No.20, Sector 10A, Dr. Mar Theophilus Marg, Vashi, Navi Mumbai: 400703.

Email: iwsahq@gmail.com | Tel: 022 - 27661806 | Fax: 022 - 27653391 | Website: www.iwsa.net

Do Join Us In Our Efforts. Contact Us To Volunteer.The hostel is for women only, however other facilities of IWSA are open to ALL - men too.

OUR COMMITMENT

PLANS FOR THE COMING YEARS:

Late Dr. Bharti Bhatt

Padmabhushan Late Dr. Kamal J. Ranadive

Late Ms. Rajani Ray

Padmashree Late Ms. Shanta Gandhi

Late Dr. Shantoo Gurnani

Late Dr. Sumati Bhide

Late Dr. Sindhu Joshi

Late Ms. Vidya Khubchandani

Dr. Sudha Padhye

Dr. Lalit Narurkar

Dr. Premlata Thomas

Dr. Kusum Arjungi