The Department of Chemistry is committed to promoting equality and diversity. Over the last 5 years we have nurtured a strong sense of community within the department that embraces diversity and promotes equality for all staff and students.
We hold an Athena SWAN Silver award (April 2019), based on our plan to improve recruitment and retention of women at all levels of the department. Having fully implemented the Bronze Award action plan we are currently following our Athena SWAN Silver Award action plan to continue making the department a positive environment for all staff.
The Positive Involvement Committee (PIC) is charged with overseeing issues of communication, equality, diversity and community building within the Department. The Committee includes Postdoctoral, Postgraduate and Undergraduate representatives as well as representatives of technical, administrative and academic staff.
Key Bronze achievements include:
- Five female professors either promoted or appointed.
- We are ahead of the HESA sector benchmark for female staff in chemistry.
- We have thriving Postdoctoral and postgraduate networks.
Our Postdoctoral and Postgraduate networks, in addition to the long running ChemSoc which represents undergraduates, run successful social events, career development days and our scientific seminar programme. The department also runs annual events such as the Great Chemistry Bake-Off and the summer party. PIC has funding available for activities which contribute to equality & diversity or communication within the department (see application form on the wiki).
Read more about our staff:
- Dr Asel Sartbaeva tells the Royal Society of Chemistry about her childhood in Kyrgyzstan and her experience as a female scientist.
- Dr Sofia Pascu shares her experience juggling family life with an academic career.
- Professor Saiful Islam tells the Royal Society about his experience as a parent and scientist.