Equality, diversity and inclusion in the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics
Only 23% of all Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) jobs in the UK are held by women (WISE 2017).
In the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics we encourage all our students to pursue careers in STEMM professions and support both the Juno project and the Athena SWAN Charter.
How we create a supportive environment for people in science
We are a welcoming department and are active in promoting a safe, diverse and inclusive environment for everyone.
PAM’s Equality Committee works to remove barriers for LGBT+, BAME and women to create an equal workspace beneficial to all.
PAM has a zero-tolerance non-discrimination policy informed by the UH Equality and Diversity department and underpinned by University-wide Bullying and Harassment policy.
Project Juno and Athena SWAN
Science cannot reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of the whole population, and until women and men can benefit equally from the opportunities it affords. Project Juno and Athena SWAN act as catalysts to achieve this cultural shift.
In the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, the commitment to progressing women's careers in science and mathematics spans all levels, from undergraduate students to the Head of Department.
Our engagement with equality and diversity to date has been recognised by the following awards:
- Athena SWAN Silver departmental award (April 2018) (PDF - 3.14 Mb)
- Juno Champion status (July 2019) (PDF - 0.62 Mb)
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More about Project Juno and the Athena SWAN Charter
The Juno project
Project Juno was established by the Institute of Physics (IOP) in 2007 in order to recognise and reward departments that can demonstrate they are actively encouraging good practice and addressing the underrepresentation of women in university physics.The Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics was first awarded Juno Practitioner status by the Institute of Physics in January 2015, and was successful in its application to Champion status in July 2019.
The panel judging the renewal application commended the following areas: the considerable development of the ‘Women in Science’ programme, achieving 50% female speakers for colloquium series, implementing cross-school activities to promote networking, the overhaul of appraisal structure to focus on staff development requirements and the positive E&D statements in job adverts.
Commenting on this achievement, the former Head of Department Professor Mark Thompson said: “I’d like to thank everyone who worked on this and everyone in PAM who has helped to keep equality and diversity at the top of our agenda. I would like to particularly single out Kristen Coppin for overseeing the effort and Sean Ryan who worked really hard on eloquently capturing all that PAM had achieved over the last 3 years. I’m looking forward to moving onwards to Juno Champion and Athena Swan submissions in the near future.”
Athena SWAN
The Athena SWAN Charter is an initiative run by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) recognising commitment and excellence to addressing the underrepresentation of women and in advancing gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) in Higher Education.
The Charter covers women in academic roles, the progression of students into academia, and the working environment for all staff.
PAM was successful in winning an upgrade to the Athena SWAN Silver award in April 2018, having previously achieved the Athena SWAN Bronze departmental Award in 2015.
Support from the Senior Management
I fully support the efforts of our Equality Committee to create an inclusive community in the Department where all can flourish, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or background, and where nobody is held back from career or personal development. The Equality Committee's work, recognised by an Athena SWAN Silver award and Juno Champion status from the Institute of Physics, has helped us to build a culture that promotes equality and diversity amongst the staff and student body in PAM.
Martin Hardcastle, Head of Department
As a husband endeavouring to support my wife in achieving her career aspirations alongside my own, and as a father and primary carer of two young children, I recognise some of the personal and cultural pressures which affect women in pursuing their career choices. When these pressures operate in an environment in which women are already underrepresented, as in physics and mathematics, both conscious and unconscious biases can act against their progression. The Juno and Athena Swan programmes allow us to focus our efforts to address these biases in a more concerted and effective way.
Sean Ryan, Professor of Astrophysics