March is Women’s History Month. And, one way to advance women in science is to make it easier to get into the “room where it happens.” And that is exactly what the organization Parasites Without Borders (PWB) is doing, through funding several women to travel to conferences. PWB is an educational resource sharing information on aspects of the problems associated with parasitic diseases that affect people around the world.
Throughout March and April, all donations made to PWB will be matched by the organization and donated to the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), with a minimum pledged donation of $15,000 and a total gift of up to $30,000.
One in three attendees of the ASTMH Annual Meeting is a student or a trainee. A significant percentage of them hail from low and low-middle income countries. Awardees are selected by the Travel Awards Committee based on the scientific abstract they submit. Travel Award recipients participate in the meeting through oral or poster presentations. PWB-supported Travel Awards will be dedicated to female students or trainees from low and low-middle income countries who would not otherwise be able to attend.
Founded in 1903, ASTMH is the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health.
“Last year was our first year exhibiting in person at the highly regarded ASTMH Annual Meeting,” explained Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, CTropMed, CTH, president of PWB. “We saw firsthand how important experiences gained at the five-day event are for those who attend. We’re honored to raise funds to help send three incredibly well-deserving young female scientists/doctors to the upcoming Annual Meeting.”
“We are pleased to be partners with Parasites Without Borders again this year,” said Karen A. Goraleski, CEO of ASTMH. “We have a shared belief that offering opportunities to female students, trainees, and early-career researchers from low and low-middle income countries is an important investment to reduce the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. Presenting research at the Annual Meeting, the premier international forum for scientific discourse in tropical medicine, hygiene, and global health, is a skills- and career-building experience that can benefit their careers for years to come.”
