Department of Materials awarded Athena Swan Silver for gender equality

The Department of Materials has successfully renewed its Athena Swan Silver award, recognising its dedication to promoting gender equality.

The Department of Materials has held an Athena SWAN Silver Award since 2010 in recognition of its work to promote gender equality. It was last renewed in 2017.

Professor Sandrine Heutz, Head of Department commented:

"This is a fantastic outcome that recognises our ambition to reach gender equality and be an inclusive department. I thank everyone, and especially our Equality, Diversity and Culture committee, for this successful renewal.  While we can celebrate, there is still lots of work to do, and I look forward to implementing our action plan in the years to come."

Progress so far

Mrs Darakshan Khan and Dr Iain Dunlop, EDC Committee co-chairs and Faculty EDI Committee representatives led the renewal application. 

Specific achievements from the last few years that have impacted gender equality include: 

• Materials' Departmental Carers Fund: The Department of Materials established a Carers Fund to provide members with a grant to contribute towards additional care-related costs of up to £250 when attending work-related events, meetings and conferences. 
• Introducing the Department of Materials Code of Conduct, Active Bystander, Safeguarding Training, Microagression Training and Unconscious Bias training: These training programmes have been introduced for all new staff and students.
• A new Postdoc and Fellows Committee and Champion active in all areas of the Department to support and celebrate early career researchers.
• Increased support for flexible working: Flexible working is positively encouraged with members of staff regularly working from home one day a week across all levels in the Department - from Postdoc to Professor.

A new action plan

The EDC Committee are now finalising a new action plan to support gender equality in the department in the years ahead.

Learn more about the Equality, Diversity and Culture Committee in the Department of Materials.