The UK does not currently have a national network of women scientists, engineers and technologists.

We are keen to know what women in science, engineering and technology think about this - would a national network be useful? If so, what should its main objectives and functions be?

Please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=95853383191 and complete a short survey, and circulate this email to your friends and contacts so that we can have the widest possible feedback.

This survey has been developed from a collaborative effort involving several women from a variety of organisations, including Cambridge AWiSE and YTKO, and has been funded by the UKRC for Women in SET.

We plan to hold a meeting of interested parties to discuss the results of the survey and more information will follow on this.

After discussions amongst a number of people we have made a start in defining what we think it might involve. You can find out more information about what we are proposing at www.setwomen.co.uk and we welcome any comments / suggestions / assistance. The development of this proposal will be informed by the results of the survey.

Networks are important sources of information and support as well as a means of giving their members a joint voice. We propose that this network would be for all women working in academia, industry, enterprise, public sector as well as those on a career break. We suggest that this network could have three main functions and outline these briefly below:

1- Voice: Enable women to express their opinions and have a voice with which to inform public policymakers, employers and public perceptions.
This might be achieved by holding regional meetings about specific topics or by providing online discussion forums.
2- Networking: Organise local meetings around the country to allow women to share ideas, inspire and learn from each other.
3- Information and Resources: To help signpost women to sources of training and advice that are currently available. To provide specific information, for example about job sharing or part time working. To publish inspiring articles, podcast interviews, case-studies of women in SET.

Other countries have national networks and you might like to look at the following for inspiration:

Canadian Society for Women in Science and Technology (www.scwist.ca) Association for Women in Science (USA) (www.awis.org) WISE-NET Australia (www.wisenet-australia.org)