The Department of Earth Science and Engineering is committed to supporting and developing a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community of staff and students.
Our Departmental values – Supportive | Excellence | Integrity | Innovative | Inclusive | Inspiring – couple with those of Imperial College and support us in making ESE a place for excellence in research and teaching, and the best place to study, work and develop your career.
To develop equality, diversity, inclusion and culture (EDIC) at ESE, we have dedicated teams working to ensure the dignity and individuality of every person in the Department is respected and supported.
EDIC and Athena
A snapshot of what we're doing in ESE
The EDIC Committee has started an new EDI Podcast to share the experiences of staff and students on EDI-related topics. The aim is to demystify processes and empower the ESE community to share their stories. Our first episode features Valentin Laurent speaking about his experience bringing his son to a conference abroad.
Summary of EDIC updates, activities and actions taken:
We support and develop various initiatives relating to gender equality, such as recently providing funding for ESE students and postdocs to deliver a school outreach activity to encourage women and girls into Science and Engineering.
EDI structure at Imperial College
There are multiple ways in which the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda is progressed at Imperial.
Key responsibility for shaping and delivering the College’s EDI Strategy lies with the Assistant Provost (EDI), Prof. Stephen Curry, who oversees College-level applications for Athena SWAN and the Race Equality Charter. There is also the EDI Centre, which offers guidance, training, events and support as part of the College’s HR services and works to advance EDI at Imperial.
EDI Structure at Imperial
EDI Committees
Central College committees include:
Faculty committees include the FoE EDI Representatives Network.
Staff networks
Networks for staff and postgraduate students to get involved with include:
- Able@Imperial – for disabled staff, postgraduates and allies
- Carer’s Network – Everything related to being a carer in one place
- Imperial 600 – for LGBTQ+ staff, postgraduates and allies
- Imperial as One – for BAME staff, postgraduate and allies
- Parents’ Network – Everything related to being a parent at Imperial
- PA and Administrators' Network
Student societies and representation
- Liberation Community Networks – Representation includes BME, LGBTQ+, Gender Equality, Disability, Working Class Officers and more
- IQ – Imperial society for LGBTQ+ students
- Student Union Student Societies
Support and resources
For resources provided by Imperial College, your first port of call should be the EDI Centre.
Working alongside other resources across College, the EDI Centre provides support for everything from COVID-19 to bullying and harrassment to mental health, and acts as a repository for information on topics such as family leave, how to be an effective ally, unconscious bias, race, and disability support. You can also sign up for various training courses, some of which are recommended for all Imperial staff.
Support and resources
If you require support, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the below people:
- Anita Murphy (Student Wellbeing Adviser and Departmental Disabilities Officer who supports students with mental health, wellbeing, bereavement, reasonable adjustments and more)
- ESE's Mental Health Awareness Team (points of contact within ESE for mental health support)
- Dr Becky Bell (EDIC Committee Chair)
- Dr Becky Bell and Dr Katharina Kreissig (Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team Chairs)
- Sophia Quazi (EDI Coordinator; supports the department in progressing EDI. Contact her about any EDI related projects or issues)
- Prof. Tina van de Flierdt, Head of Department (office hours are Wednesdays, 3-5pm)
ESE students can find guidance and support by approaching Student Wellbeing Adviser Anita Murphy, the ESE Mental Health Awareness Team, or our Departmental team of Mental Health First Aiders within ESE (trained staff volunteers who listen, reassure and respond to instances of poor mental health and crisis). At Faculty level, Naomi Jackson-Macfarlane (Student Wellbeing Adviser, Faculty of Engineering) can provide confidential support for Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority students seeking help and advice, while at College level, students can reach out to the Students' Union Black and Ethnic Minority Students Officer, Rebekah Christie.
In addition, there are diverse resources available across Imperial for students, including:
- Report and Support tool – For reporting any instances of bullying and harassment – there is an option to report anonymously
- Bullying and harassment – Support for students who experience bulling and harassment
- Sexual violence – Support available for sexual violence
- Disability advisory service – Disability support for students
- Departmental disability officers – First point of contact for students regarding disability support
- Access Able – Accessibility guides for campus buildings
- Dyslexia and neurodiversity – Screenings and support for dyslexia and neurodivergence for both staff and students
- Women at Imperial week – Annual event that takes place around International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March
- Student Counselling – Offers both in person and online appointments
- How to be a white ally
- Imperial values – College-level values that guide community behaviour
- Diversity calendar – Key diversity holidays and dates
- Bereavement and loss – This webpage lists support for students who are going through bereavement or loss
Training opportunities
- Training - Union Black anti-racism course
- Training - Unconscious bias
At a College level, Staff may wish to review Imperial College's Access and Participation Plan and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, and explore Imperial's network of staff supporters (trained volunteers who provide confidential and positive assistance to all Imperial staff when they need information, guidance and support).
In addition, there are diverse resources available across Imperial for staff, including:
- Bullying and harassment – Support, procedures and relevant policies related to bullying and harassment, including the Harassment, bullying and victimisation policy and Harassment Support Contacts (trained staff who can provide confidential support)
- Report and Support tool – For reporting any instances of bullying and harassment – there is an option to report anonymously
- Disability – Disability support for staff and students including screening for dyslexia and neurodiversity
- Workplace adjustments and Access to work - Guidance and financial support for adaptations made in the workplace to ensure equal access and opportunity for a disabled person
- Access Able – Accessibility guides for campus buildings
- Diversity calendar – Key diversity holidays and dates
- Equality Impact Assessments – Process to help you pre-empt any equality issues when developing new procedures and policies
- Race equality at Imperial and the Race equality charter
- Gender equality at Imperial and the Annual gender pay gap report – Gender equality at Imperial
- LGBTQ+ equality at Imperial and Stonewall including applying for the Workplace Equality Index (WEI) and Trans staff policy
- Mental Health and Mental Health First Aid
- Confidential Care – A confidential helpline with trained counsellors to support staff with a variety of issues
- Support for parents and carers: Family leave, The Early Years education centre, Carer support, Elsie Widdowson Fellowship Award
- Bereavement and loss – Compassionate leave – guidance for staff who need to take leave for bereavement
Related training and development – we encourage you to sign up!
- College-level Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training, including the EDI Module (compulsory for all staff)
- General anti-harassment training
- Active bystander training
- Microaggressions
- How to be a white ally
- Calibre Leadership Programme – A talent development and leadership programme for staff who identify as neurodiverse or disabled, or who have a long-term physical or mental health condition
- Hidden disabilities awareness
- Raising awareness - LGBTQ+, autism and neurodiversity, disability and mental health
- Springboard Women’s Development Programme
- Academic Women’s Programme
There are also numerous resources external to College that may be of interest. These include:
- AdvanceHE – Athena SWAN and REC
- Business disability forum – Many guides on disability. Any Imperial member can sign up with their email.
- Equality and Human Rights Commission – Promoting and upholding equality and human rights ideals and laws across England, Scotland and Wales
- Galop – LGBTQ+ anti-violence and abuse charity
- RapeCrisis UK – Provides specialist support and services for victims and survivors of sexual violence, mostly women
- Stonewall – Charity that supports LGBTQ+ equality
- Imperial is a member and applies for the Stonewall Workplace Index
- List of LGBTQ+ Terms
- Many guides and resources, if you need any please email squazi@ic.ac.uk
- SurvivorsUK – Supports men and boys who have experienced sexual violence
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