Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering program

The Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) program was launched in 1989 and expanded in 1996. The program aims to increase the participation and retention of women in science and engineering and to provide role models for women active in, and considering, careers in these fields. The CWSE program is regional—with one Chair for each of the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and British Columbia/Yukon regions. Chairholders develop, implement and communicate strategies to raise the level of participation and retention of women in science and engineering as students and as professionals, taking into account intersectional dimensions such as age, education, sexual orientation, Indigenous status, disability, language, race, ethnicity, and culture. They provide female role models who are accomplished, successful and recognized researchers in science and engineering, and develop communication and networking strategies to ensure regional and national impact. Chairs are tenable at any NSERC-eligible Canadian university within a designated region for a five-year term, renewable for an additional term of three to five years. NSERC contributes an initial $40,000 per year and matches cash and in-kind contributions from the host university and supporting organizations up to a maximum of $70,000 per year, for a total of up to $110,000 per year. Additionally, NSERC matches host university cash contributions of $20,000 with $25,000 to support a postdoctoral fellow or research engineer, bringing the total maximum NSERC contribution to $135,000 per year. Chairholders are expected to contribute up to 50% of their time to Chair activities and the remaining time to their professor/researcher activities at the university. The program is linked through a National Network Grant that facilitates interactions among the five regional Chairs to increase effectiveness, enhance communication, and increase visibility at a national level.