Equality & Diversity
The Department of Earth Sciences is proud to have received an Athena Swan Bronze Award following our submission in April 2016. Athena Swan is a charter for women in science, recognising commitment to advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research. 
The Athena Swan application process involves a critical self-assessment, highlighting both positive and negative issues, and an action plan that addresses the negative issues.
The self assessment team is comprised of:
Professors Erin Saupe (Chair), Mike Kendall (HoD) and David Pyle
Associate Professor Laura Stevens
Postdoc Representative Stergios Zarkogiannis
Graduate Students Sarah le Besque, Lewis Collins, Stephanie Lechki
Undergraduate Students Erica Harrison-Scott
Administrative/Technical Staff: Emma Brown (Academic Administrator), Charlie Rex (Outreach & Communications Manager), Emma Smith (HR Manager), and Louisa Bailey (Head of Administration and Finance)
Changes that have been made over the past few years to improve the working lives of women (and often, employees in general) in the department include:
- Establishment of a Workplace and Equality Committee
- Improved mentoring for postdocs
- Improved gender balance in role-models on the web, publications and at events
- Provision of baby-changing facilities in the disabled toilets
- Flexible working policy
- Clarification of core hours & flexible scheduling of lectures, seminars and meetings to facilitate childcare and school pick-ups.
- Family-orientated social events
The University’s Equality & Diversity Unit offers many varied opportunities for women in the department to gain specific networking and professional opportunities, for example:
The Department actively encourages all staff, and particularly female staff, to take part in these and any other suitable opportunities for career enhancement.
The department welcomes students and staff with a range of disabilities. The building is highly accessible, with lifts to all floors and wheelchair access to all labs and seminar rooms. You can find out more about our provision on the University’s Access Guide. Alternatively, why not read some of our case studies, many of which highlight the experience of our diverse students and staff?
