The NSERC Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) Program was launched in 1996. The goal of the program is to increase the participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and to provide role models for women active in, and considering, careers in these fields. The CWSE program is regional, with one chair for each of the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies, and BC/Yukon regions.