The School of Materials Science and Engineering staff of 13 academics contains only one woman. This represents a significant bias, and the aim of the proposed project is to counter the perceived imbalance. Part of the challenge is that professional women are simply not aware of the opportunities available as an academic in the field of Materials. Typically, women graduates have chosen to work in industry rather than academia due to low percentage of women on academic staff, lack of awareness and a gap in information.

Another aspect is that there is only a small pool of women at student levels, both undergraduates and postgraduates, within the school. A cultural change is needed to increase awareness of opportunities for women at every level in academia. The project seeks to inform members of possible Materials Science and Engineering related career paths including those in academia, and then mentor those who choose non-traditional roles. The initiative will focus on promoting the benefits to women in academia and through participation in Materials - Network of Women (NOW). The scope of the project will initially address women in the Materials Science and Engineering disciplines, but it is foreseen that it could be a valuable association for women in the related fields of Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. There is currently no formal network of women in Materials Science and Engineering and such related fields.

The project was established in 2004 with the support of a UNSW Equity Initiatives Grant Project addressing the issues of gender inequity at all levels within the University.