FiNuT 2005 - Abstracts

The main topics of the 2005 FiNuT (Women in Natural Science and Technology) congress were closely related to this year’s motto “Gezeitenwechsel” (Change of Tides) and were called “internationalization” and “rooms for women”, FiNut itself being one aspect.

In spite of its 28-year history, we do not see the FiNuT congress as an unchanging and isolated institution. Rather, it undergoes processes of change and lives on through its participants, their experiences and views, which can change over the years in the context of new social and political trends. Therefore, with our motto and main topics, we wanted to offer a place for reflections on FiNuT.

‘Rooms for Women’

For many of our FiNuT participants, it is self-evident that this congress is a space for women. However, in spite of the confirmed resolutions to create FiNuT as a principally man-free space, this topic turns up on the agenda again and again, because of the necessity to decide whether men should be allowed to take part in the following congress and, if so, in what form. This question was not the only occasion for us to bring FiNuT as a room for women into a comprehensive discussion. Also the development of feministic theories makes it necessary to debate the categories “woman” and “man” and to reflect critically on rooms for women. FiNuT women find themselves in the paradoxical situation of, on the one hand, arguing against the socially and culturally constructed categories “woman” and “man” but, on the other hand, at the same time strengthening this categorization by creating spaces for women. Additionally, we also thought it was important for FiNuT to discuss how to treat transgendered persons. In view of these themes we must ask whether it is still appropriate to keep providing spaces for women.

The current importance of this topic was made obvious by the fact that 24 presentations on the theme “rooms for women” were offered. The participants and presenters addressed different aspects such as questions involving mono-education, the evolution of rooms for women and whether sensitivity or gender sensitivity is advantageous for women in executive positions.

‘Internationalization’

FiNuT began as a congress in German cities and has since then also taken place in Austria and Switzerland. Even natural scientists and engineers from non-German speaking areas such as from East European countries regularly participate. As a result, a number of English speaking events have been offered over the last few years at FiNuT congresses. Also at the 2005 congress we succeeded in offering a set of 13 courses in English or English and German together.

Out of necessity, FiNuT has developed into an international network to the extent that the consequences of its internationalization must be discussed in a European context. With the main topic “internationalization” we requested that contacts be made and border crossing cooperations be constructed and maintained and that globalization processes and the situation of women in science and technology be discussed; that intercultural understanding be promoted and European women’s networks be advertized. The importance of international communication and networking was highlighted by the great number of English speaking events and illustrated by 15 events on the topic of “internationalization”.

FiNuT’s main topics in 2005

‘Rooms for Women’

‘Internationalization’