Women in Sensors Family Care Grant

In 2024, Women in Sensors (WiSe) has launched the “WiSe Family Care grant” initiative. The WiSe Family Cares Grant Program is established to promote and enable attendance at IEEE Sensors Council conferences, especially by persons whose financial obligations to care for family members may prevent their attendance, by covering the cost of their family care responsibilities (children, seniors, disabled, …).

So far, the program has been applied to the SENSORS 2024 conference (Kobe, Japan) and the IEEE APSCON 2025 conference (Hyderabad, India), allowing four delegates to benefit from our support.

This program has proven to be a successful initiative since its launch and has garnered deep appreciation from those who have received it. WiSe and Sensors Council will continue this initiative also in 2025 with our conferences (FLEPS, BIOSENSORS, SENSORS). Stay tuned!

Raed below the stories of our grantees:

Prof. Mahnaz Shafiei, Department of Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
“Attending the IEEE Sensors conferences has been a valuable opportunity for my personal and professional development.
The WiSe Family Care Grant initiative recognises the essential role of family caregivers and makes professional development opportunities more accessible
to the participants with caring responsibility. I am grateful to have received the WiSe Family Care Grant, which enabled me to present at IEEE SENSORS 2024 and
broaden my personal and professional horizons. The grant has also motivated me to engage more greatly with the conference's offerings, leading to meaningful connections
and insights that have enriched my professional journey.”
Dr. Asmita Bose, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur
“I am incredibly grateful to the WiSe Family Cares Grant Program Committee for their support, which made it possible for me to attend and present my research at the IEEE SENSORS 2024 conference in Japan. The experience of presenting my work to a global audience, connecting with experts in the field, and engaging in meaningful discussions has been invaluable for my research and professional development. I presented two technical papers, one open poster and participated in several interesting events like live demo session for my project and WISE-YP Big Pitch Idea competition. As a mother and a primary caregiver, the Family Care Grant made it possible for me to bring my two-year-old daughter along, ensuring I could participate in this important event while caring for her. This support alleviated the logistical challenges of traveling with my daughter and allowed me to focus on the conference. I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to attend this conference, where I could contribute to advancing research in sensor technology and food safety, while also promoting greater representation of women and families in STEM. Thank you once again to Women in Sensors and IEEE Sensors Council for making this experience possible!”
Mr. Dennis Kemboi Cherogony, Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Multimedia University of Kenya
“I sincerely thank the IEEE Women in Sensors (WiSe) team for awarding me this Grant. Balancing my professional commitments with family responsibilities has been challenging, and this support helped ease the financial burden while I attended IEEE SENSORS 2024. This grant enabled me to fully participate in the conference, present my research, and engage with the global sensors community. I truly appreciate this initiative and look forward to contributing meaningfully in Kobe.”
Mr. Debajyoti Mitra, 4th Year B.Tech Student, Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Management, Kolkata
“I am deeply grateful to the IEEE Women in Sensors (WiSe) Family Care Grant Program for their generous support, which has made my participation in APSCON 2025 at IIT Hyderabad possible. As a student managing the financial burden of attending this prestigious conference, along with the necessary care for my mother, seemed like an impossible challenge.
This grant is not just financial assistance, it is a gateway to an incredible opportunity. APSCON 2025 represents a milestone in my academic journey, allowing me to present my research on a global stage, engage with leading experts, and grow as a scholar within the IEEE community. The support from WiSe has lifted a significant weight off my shoulders, ensuring that I can fully immerse myself in the conference experience without financial constraints holding me back.
I sincerely appreciate the IEEE Sensors Council and the WiSe initiative for recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by individuals with family responsibilities. This program is truly transformative, and I look forward to contributing back to the community that has empowered me. Thank you for making this dream a reality!”