FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Maria Ibañez
202-588-8175
Ibanez@awis.org

WASHINGTON DC, June 14, 2019 – AWIS CEO Sandra W. Robert, CAE, issued the following statement in response to the announcement from National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, that called the STEM industry to shut down the widespread practice of hosting of #manels, panels with only men.

“Intentionally representing women STEM professionals in high profile scientific conferences and meetings is core to bending the curve and accelerating the representation of women and underrepresented communities in presenting their science, voices and perspectives. I applaud Dr. Francis Collins for taking the position of speaking at meetings demonstrating inclusive agendas.”

About AWIS: Founded in 1971, AWIS has been the leading advocate for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to achieve business growth, social change, and innovation. We are dedicated to driving excellence in STEM by achieving equity and full participation of women in all disciplines and across all employment sectors. In addition to scholarships, AWIS provides career resources, professional development, as well as networking, mentoring, and volunteer opportunities to build leadership skills. To learn more, visit awis.org and @AWISNational.