Welcome to the web site of the Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam Institute for Supporting Women in Science and Technology (BIS-WIST).

We are happy to announce the launching of Stage 2 projects from January, 2009 which will include "small group" funding in addition to the local organization support that has been implemented since Stage 1. Women's organizations, informal or well-established, have played a valuable role in raising the profiles of women scientists and engineers by bringing to light the problems they face. Informal small groups of women professionals have also influenced policy making. To ensure visibility and empowerment of women in science and technology (ST) unique to the Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam region, BIS-WIST will sponsor various "small groups" of women scientists and/or engineers.

The career services, professional development programs and networking opportunities as well as policy researches conducted in Stage 1 will continue on. However, in Stage 2, more emphasis will be placed in finding solutions for the utilization of the hidden, potential and apparent talents of women in ST in our region. Thus, CoSWoS (Customized Skills for Women Scientists and Engineers), a program to strengthen the capability of professional women scientists and engineers and BEGIN (BT, ET, GT, IT: a New Start for Women engineers and Scientists), a job-specific skill training for young and women scientists and engineers will be augmented.

We at BIS-WIST will continue to do our best to develop programs that will support the retention, recruitment and advancement of women in ST in the Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam region. We would be most grateful for any comments and suggestions and thank all the men and women scientists and engineers for their persistent endeavors and cooperation.

We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Jung Sun Kim, Ph.D.
Director, BIS-WIST