The idea for the Alberta Womens Science Network (AWSN) was formulated at the Science Alberta Foundation conference held October 1992 in Calgary. Here, women from all over Alberta discussed the need for a network amongst Women in Science & Engineering groups in Alberta. By communicating and sharing resources, the groups would be helping each other to achieve common goals. The outcome was a Consortium Committee representing some of the active women in science groups in Alberta. The committee members were: Joyce Luethy, Susan MacAlister, Dr. Lis Dixon, Dr. Margaret Ann Armour, Connie Parenteau, Arlene Howel-Pick, Joy Brown, Pamela Parr, Mary Jane Tomcala, Dr. Dorothy Tovell, Ingrid Jasper and Glenna Jefferies, chair.

The mission, objectives and activities were drafted and the group was granted non-profit society status in Alberta. The first annual general meeting was held in June 1994. The first newsletter was published in June 1993 with the purpose of reporting on all the activities in Alberta that meet the AWSN mission.

The initial project of the AWSN was a feasibility study of the proposal of a "resource vehicle" which would travel around Alberta and deliver information on science careers. The result of the study was that the costs of such a project and the woman power required were higher than those available. We did not want to detract from the existing programs that were achieving good results by the AWSN member organizations. With the advent of the world wide web we should be able to achieve the same end, electronically.

The AWSN has a lending library of interesting material regarding women in science and engineering that is available to the public. The Resource Catalogue lists what is available in the library and was developed using funding from Science Culture Canada. The Second Edition of the Resource Catalogue can be viewed & downloaded from the front page of our website or by clicking on the highlighted words.

Joyce Luethy is the Executive Director of the AWSN. Joyce is a retired Junior High School Assistant Principal and Science Teacher, and one of the founders of Operation Minerva and the founder of AWSN. Phone calls and email requests sent to the AWSN email address awsn@awsn.com are all handled by Joyce.

For more information about our Resource Catalogue or the organization and the member organizations below our umbrella, please contact Joyce.