We had our first WICGE event at an international conference since the launch at the International Coastal Symposium in 2016! Over 300 delegates from more than 20 countries attended Coastal Dynamics in Helsingør in Denmark from 13-16 June 2017. The Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering Network ran an event during the lunch break on the third day of the conference.  During the event, three WICGE committee members, Nadia Sénéchal, Ana Vila Concejo, and Hannah Power, spoke briefly.

Nadia introduced the network and explained its goals and objectives.    Hannah presented some data that the committee has recently compiled on the gender profile of the coastal discipline as a whole and within prestigious roles such as journal editorial boards and conference organising committees.  

Ana concluded with suggestions for how everyone could contribute to make Coastal Geoscience and Engineering a more gender balanced discipline. The presentation and questions that followed led to enthusiastic conversations afterwards. Some senior members of the coastal geosciences and engineering community were surprised by the data we showed and said that it had been “eye-opening” and that they would endeavour to pay more attention to gender equity. So… success!!

These events are designed to raise awareness and propose solutions; we’re looking forward to many more. Please let us know if you would like to have a WICGE event at your next conference.

Here’s to bigger and better WICGE events at future international conferences!!