"WiSIA - Women in Science - an Interdisciplinary Association" has been founded in 2009 by participants of "fFORTE - Frauen in Forschung und Technologie Coaching" 2008/09 of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research (Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung - BMWFa), to promote networking between female scientists (in Austria).
The reason for founding this Association was to continue achieved synergies in the efficient multidisciplinary cooperation during fFORTE Coaching as well as termination of funds from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Research for the existing fFORTE-Alumni network.
The purpose of the Association is to offer networking for women in science and culture, promotion of further training and education and interexchange as well as joint research, cultural and networking projects and the publication of research results.
One of the results of the first WISIA Symposium in October 2009 at the FH Joanneum in Graz, was the development of an interdisciplinary book for children, designed to playfully wake the interest of elementary school children in science.
So far, since the start of fFORTE Coaching, the Members of the Association have achieved numerous successful projects, among them the foundation of a Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise, an EU-Project, a FWF- and two research projects supported by FFG; projects "forMuse - Forschung an Museen" by BMWF, Herzfelder'schen Familienstiftung, Hochschuljubiläumsstiftung, several documentary films, a "Best Paper Award", as well as the foundation of a company.