Equality & Diversity

Following a submission in November 2013, it was announced on 1 May 2014 that the School of Geographical and Earth Sciences and the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine had both received Bronze Athena SWAN Awards.

Professor Maggie Cusack, Head of Geographical and Earth Sciences said "I am delighted that the School of Geographical & Earth Sciences has been awarded Athena SWAN Bronze. Athena SWAN provides an opportunity to explore the reasons why so few women climb the career ladder in science. Our self assessment team have worked hard to gather data on the gender ratio across our School and to reflect on our practices and culture. We hope that the implementation of the action plan outlined in our award will further support women in STEMM academic subjects and improve the working environment for everyone."

View the School's Athena SWAN Bronze Award application and Action Plan.

Professor Dan Haydon, Director of the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine said "I want to build an Institute in which different ways of doing science can be appreciated, valued, and complemented. Recognizing and supporting the diversity of ways different people do their science is fundamental to the interdisciplinarity so critical to our long-term goals. By doing so not only will we ensure equality for all, but we’ll have a truly outstanding, secure, and inspiring research environment in which everyone’s career ambitions can be realized. The Athena SWAN award is significant recognition that we are succeeding in this ambition. I’m delighted with the outcome, and deeply appreciative to all the staff who worked so hard to achieve it."

A copy of the Institute's Bronze Award Application and Action Plan is also available to download.

The two new awards join those for the School of Physics which already has a Silver award and the University's overall Bronze award.

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First published: 14 October 2014