Equality success for Imperial departments
17 September 2010
The positive action of four Imperial departments in supporting female academics was celebrated last month. The Department of Materials and the School of Public Health collected two silver SWAN awards, while the Departments of Computing and Earth Science and Engineering each won bronze.
Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) awards acknowledge demonstrated commitment by an institution or department to recruit, retain and advance women academics.
Professor Neil Alford, Head of the Department of Materials, said: “Winning the Athena Silver SWAN award is tremendously important for our department. Having now made this start with the Athena Award, it is the Department’s intention to monitor progress against the targets outlined in the action plan.”
Professor Elio Riboli, the Director of the School of Public Health, which also won a Silver award, added: “We are delighted that the Athena panel has recognised the efforts that we have put in place over the past few years for promoting women in science and academia in the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics, primary care and public health, and are fully committed to continuing to improve through implementation of the action plan we have developed.”
The successful departments’ activities varied from away days, which provide informal environments for discussing any concerns, to a staff intranet with a dedicated area for female staff.
Professor Dot Griffiths, Chair of the College’s Academic Opportunities Committee, said: “These awards reflect the excellent work which the College is doing to support both its male and female academics.”
— John-Paul Jones, Communications and Development
Tags: Athena SWAN
Posted in College, Research, Your Voice | No Comments »
