Recognition for Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

The School of Physics and Astronomy has been awarded Juno Practitioner status by the Institute of Physics' Juno Assessment Panel.

The aim of the Juno project is to recognise and reward departments that can demonstrate they have taken action to address the under-representation of women in university physics and to encourage better practice for both women and men.

There are three levels of Juno awards:

• Supporter:
  The department starts its Juno journey by endorsing the five principles and making a commitment to work towards Practitioner and then Champion.
• Practitioner:
  The department demonstrates that its Juno journey is well under way. Qualitative and quantitative evidence is gathered and its initial action plan demonstrates how the department aims to achieve Champion status.
• Champion:
  The department demonstrates that the five principles are embedded throughout the department. Further evidence is gathered and its action plan demonstrates how the department will continue to further good practice.

Practitioner Status was awarded in recognition of the excellent work being undertaken in the School to implement the principles of the Juno project. The panel congratulated the School for its commitment to equality and diversity initiatives within the School, and were particularly impressed with the commitment of the senior management of the School to the process. They were also impressed with the increase in female academic staff numbers and the significant improvement in the numbers of women taking up PhD degrees in Physics and Astronomy.

The School is renowned for its various initiatives inspiring and supporting women and young people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), and a number of staff have won prestigious awards for engagement and outreach.

Professor Matt Griffin, Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy, said: "We are delighted to receive the award of Juno Practitioner.  Our School is committed to the principles of equality and diversity and we want to ensure that all our staff and students have the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential and that all can work together with dignity, fairness, and mutual respect. This award is recognition of the work we have done so far, and we will now be working actively to achieve the next and final recognition of Juno Champion."

Project Juno was established by the Institute in 2007 in response to best practice identified from the Institute of Physics' project "Women in University Physics Departments".