We are proud to hold Bronze Status in the prestigious charter mark Athena SWAN and be recognised as a Supporter of Project Juno
- What is Athena SWAN?
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The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. The Charter was launched in June 2005. Any higher education institution which is committed to the advancement and promotion of the careers of women in STEMM in higher education and research can apply for membership.The charter has now been expanded to recognise work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. To that end, any references to gender are to be taken as inclusive of all gender identities including, for example, non-binary, fluid and trans identities.
The beliefs underpinning the Charter are:
- The advancement of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine is fundamental to quality of life across the globe
- It is vitally important that women are adequately represented in what has traditionally been, and is still, a male-dominated area
- 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
- For more information, please visit: http://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan/
Athena SWAN comprises 3 levels of recognition for efforts to advance women's careers: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Currently the Physics and Astronomy Department is working towards the Silver level.
- Institute of Physics Project Juno
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The Department of Physics and Astronomy is also recognised as a supporter of Project Juno.
The aim of Project Juno is to recognise and reward departments that can demonstrate they have taken action to address the under-representation of women in university physics, and to encourage better practice for both women and men. Progress is assessed based upon five principles:
- A robust organisational framework to deliver equality of opportunity and reward
- Appointment and selection processes and procedures that encourage men and women to apply for academic posts at all levels
- Departmental structures and systems which support and encourage the career progression and promotion of all staff and enable men and women to progress and continue in their careers
- Departmental organisation, structure, management arrangements and culture that are open, inclusive and transparent and encourage the participation of all staff
- Flexible approaches and provisions that enable individuals, at all career and life stages, to optimise their contribution to their department, institution and to science, engineering and technology
- Statement of support from the Head of Department
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Our Department is a friendly place to work and study. We want everyone to share our passion for Physics and Astronomy. And we strive hard to let everyone achieve to their full potential in our Department. But even with open and outright gender discrimination most definitely a thing of the past, we are very well aware that there is still a long road ahead to true gender equality in science. So we have put together a team of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and genders to help us identify issues impeding equality and tackle them. It can be seemingly very small things that make a difference. Thus we hope we can make work more enjoyable and life easier for all of us and our families.
Professor Claudia Eberlein,
Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy
- The Self-Assessment Team
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The Team has responsibility to reflect on the Department's commitment to the Athena SWAN charter, and it does this by reviewing data, monitoring the progress of the action plan, conducting surveys and focus groups.
The SAT is led by the Chair, Professor Philip Harris.
SAT members listed in alphabetical order by surname:
Oonagh Caunter, School Administrator and Secretary to the SAT
Steve Churchwell, School Technical Manager
Djuna Croon, Research Student in Physics and Astronomy
Keri Dixon, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Physics and Astronomy
Claudia Eberlein, Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy
Barry Garraway, Professor of Quantum Physics and School Director of Student Experience
Jackie Grant, Teaching Fellow in Physics and Astronomy
Mark Hindmarsh, Director of Outreach
Margarita Kostadinova, Human Resources Adviser
Alessia Pasquazi, School Equality & Diversity Champion
Afiya Roman-Bains, Undergraduate Student in Physics and Astronomy
Kathy Romer, Careers Tutor in Physics and Astronomy
Jasmine Thomson-Cooke, Undergraduate Student in Physics and Astronomy
Veronica Sanz, Senior Tutor in Physics and Astronomy
Steve Wilkins, Admissions Tutor in Physics and Astronomy
- The Application for Bronze Status
- The Action Plan
- Our Family-Friendly Policies and Practices
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Within our Department, we aim to be in the vanguard with regard to policies and practices that support the diverse needs of our staff and students. As examples, we have implemented the following:
- A completely open and transparent workload allocation model that accounts in detail for time spent on the many tasks undertaken by our academics, sharing burdens fairly and allowing junior faculty to take on significant responsibilities.
- A policy of reduction of duties for returners from maternity leave, to 60% of the normal workload during the first semester
- Internally arranged meetings to take place, as far as possible, within family-friendly hours of 10 am to 4 pm, with all staff (including minute-takers) explicitly permitted to leave at the end of the scheduled time
- Appointment of Equality and Diversity Champions, with whom concerned staff members may discuss in confidence without having to pass via their Line Managers
- Explicit encouragement for all research and teaching staff to discuss their career progression within their annual Appraisal, rather than using Appraisal merely as a performance-management tool
- Funding for Female Scientists
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Women in Science Fellowships --- enable female scientists to facilitate world-class research and develop their careers
Daphne Jackson Trust --- returning researchers to their careers following a career break
Wellcome Trust re-entry scheme --- grant to allow flexibility in research career
Funds for Women Graduates --- promotes higher education and further learning for women graduates
- Networks for Female Researchers
- Equality and Diversity at the University of Sussex
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The University of Sussex is committed to providing an environment for work and study that advances equality of opportunity.
Please visit the University web pages relating to Equality and Diversity, and the University Athena SWAN web pages
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/equalities/
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/athenaswan
- Equality and Diversity Champions
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The School has appointed two Equality and Diversity Champions.
They act as a point of liaison between members of the School, professional services, and members of the management including the Heads of Department and the Head of School. Where an issue of inequality is perceived to arise, they are appropriate points of contact to approach about the issue.
Dr Steve Churchwell
Dr Alessia Pasquazi
- UK Equality and Diversity Law
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The 2010 Equality Act is the most significant piece of equality legislation in the UK for many years. It simplifies, streamlines and strengthens the law. It gives individuals greater protection from unfair discrimination and makes it easier for employers and companies to understand their responsibilities. It also sets a new standard for those who provide public services to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Equality act guidance, from the Government Equalities Office
Equality act guidance and codes of practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission
