This conference was organised by the Third World Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency. For the 250 female scientist participants from distant lands and diverse cultures from the Caribbean to the Far East, the conference proved a stimulating experience to recognize their strength in terms of numbers and achievements, to forge new links, nationally and internationally, and to demonstrate that science is independent of gender and is no longer an exclusively male-dominated preserve. The first part of the proceedings deals with the global, Third World and national perspectives of the theme “Women and Science” and the second highlights the scientific contributions by Third World women scientists, their personal experiences and scientific reports. The publication of these proceedings would serve as a potentially effective strategy aimed at enhancing the status of women scientists, not only in the Third World but worldwide.

This conference was organised by the Third World Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency. For the 250 female scientist participants from distant lands and diverse cultures from the Caribbean to the Far East, the conference proved a stimulating experience to recognize their strength in terms of numbers and achievements, to forge new links, nationally and internationally, and to demonstrate that science is independent of gender and is no longer an exclusively male-dominated preserve. The first part of the proceedings deals with the global, Third World and national perspectives of the theme “Women and Science” and the second highlights the scientific contributions by Third World women scientists, their personal experiences and scientific reports. The publication of these proceedings would serve as a potentially effective strategy aimed at enhancing the status of women scientists, not only in the Third World but worldwide.