International Women's Day: The Academic Ambassador's perspective

To mark International Women's Day, lecturer Karen Makuch reflects on her own career and the progress that has been made for women in academia.

Karen is a Lecturer in Environmental Law & Energy Law in the Centre for Environmental Policy. She champions a number of initiatives to support female academics at Imperial in her role as Academic Ambassador for Women in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chair of the Academic Opportunities Committee in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Chair of the Academic Women's Committee in the Centre for Environmental Policy.

We caught up with Karen to find out more about her work to support women in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and her own experiences of being a woman in academia.

Tell us about the initiatives you're involved in at Imperial

As Academic Ambassador for Women in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, I aim to support fellow female academics in their professional development and provide opportunities for women across the Faculty to meet and support each other through networking and mentoring events.

Last year I also set up the Academic Women’s Committee in the Centre for Environmental Policy which, as well as spearheading the Department's Athena Swan Bronze Award application, helps to raise awareness of College initiatives to improve opportunities for women.

What prompted you to get involved?

It all stemmed from personal experience. Working in a traditionally male-dominated field, I knew first-hand the challenges that women in academia can face. At the start of my law career I found myself attending conferences where I would be one of the only women in a room full of men in grey suits. I decided that if I wanted to see a change, I had better get involved myself!

I also have a background in Human Rights Law, so I know how powerful public participation in policy-making is. Getting involved felt very much like an extension of my own field and research interests.

Have you seen improvements over the course of your career?

Things have certainly improved, and you can see significant changes among the academic community. There are a lot more women entering STEM careers now, and we’re increasingly seeing women become prominent leaders in their field – although we do still have a long way to go.

Universities themselves are now making a significant commitment to breaking down the barriers that have historically hindered women's career progression.  For me personally, Imperial’s Elsie Widdowson Fellowships scheme is a key example of this – relieving women of their teaching and administrative duties for 12 months after they return from maternity or adoption leave so that they can focus their attention on research.

The flexibility that this scheme offered me meant that rather than having to put my career on hold, I was actually able to publish a book whilst taking care of my baby. In my opinion, this is ground-breaking for women in academia and represents a real step forward.

Why do you think International Women’s Day is important?

Whilst impressive improvements have been made, there is still some way to go before we reach a level playing field. There are a lot of female academics who are doing amazing things, however an individual’s success can often go unrecognised and women are still under-represented in academia. This is particularly true for senior positions, despite Imperial’s improved track record.

International Women's Day is a way of showcasing and celebrating the achievements of women while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done to ensure equal opportunities for everyone.

More on international women's day

Diane Morgan, newly appointed Associate Dean of Programmes in the Business School, discusses the ways in which business schools can support women in their careers in a new podcast to mark International Women's Day.