Women scientists from developing countries are attending a five-day international conference here to highlight their contribution to science and technology and to discuss ways to promote women's access to science. Around 150 delegates from India, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, South Africa and Malaysia are attending the conference to discuss ways to strengthen women's role in the development process and to promote their representation in various fields of science and technology. Jamil said women could play a key role in evolving science-based strategies to solve specific economic and environmental problems through biotechnology and conventional energy. The conference will also demonstrate that women were not indifferent to the growing needs of science and technology, she added.
Women face enormous difficulties in accessing science and technology.
The women scientists are to present nearly 50 technical papers on environmental pollution, industrial biotechnology, biochemical toxicology, ecology, health and microbial and plant biotechnology during the conference which will conclude on Saturday. She, however, said that lack of chemical plants and lack of supplies of important material hindered research work in the country. Moran said women should enjoy equal opportunities to compete with men in biotechnology and other areas, adding that the Philippine government had set up biotechnology villages to carry out experiments and women engaged in farming were participating in these experiments. This was the first forum to unite women scientists with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in various fields of science and technological.