School celebrates Athena SWAN Bronze award

The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences has received an Athena SWAN Bronze Award in recognition for its commitment to gender equality in higher education. The School’s submission was led by Dr Rhoda Ballinger.

Athena SWAN is one of the Equality Challenge Unit’s (ECU) equality charters and was established in 2005. It aims to recognise and encourage commitment to gender equality in higher education and research, in particular women’s career advancement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine. Since 2015 it also covers gender equality promotion in the arts, humanities, social sciences, business, and law, as well as expanding to include professional services roles, and support for Trans staff and students.

Self-assessment formed a large part of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences’ Athena SWAN application process. Several challenges and areas for improvement were identified, for example the need to attract more female applicants to advertised positions. An action plan is already being implemented, supported by the School’s newly established Inclusivity and Diversity Committee chaired by Dr Ballinger.

Dr Ballinger, Chair of the School’s Self-Assessment Team, thanked colleagues involved in the process “for working tirelessly on improving sections and devising appropriate actions to improve our School’s culture and work procedures. Many thanks also to those of you who provided additional comments and attended workshops to help inform our submission.”

Professor Ian Hall, Head of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences added: “I wish to acknowledge all the members of the Athena SWAN self-assessment team for their invaluable contribution and dedicated work. I also thank the whole School community for recognising the need for change and embracing this call to action.“