Women in engineering
Women have traditionally been under-represented in engineering disciplines, but through the Faculty's support network for female academics and the promotion of gender diversity, all our staff are able to achieve their potential as engineers.
The Faculty champions the excellent work produced by our female staff across engineering, whether they are a senior member of staff or just starting out in their career, and aims to present engineering as an attractive career choice to young women.
The Faculty has three departments with silver athena swan awards (Chemical Engineering, Earth Science & Engineering and Materials) and one department with a bronze award (Computing). These awards recognise the Faculty's work to ensure it provides a good place for women to work and study. Our outreach projects are also designed to reflect the diversity across the Faculty and to encourage young women to enjoy engineering.
Our staff are core to the Faculty's success, and it is through our vibrant community and divserse workplace that we are able to produce the world class teaching and research for which the Faculty is known.
Academic opportunity
The Faculty's academic opportunities committee (AOC) was set up to encourage transparency, fairness and equality of opportunity in all aspects of Faculty life, with a particular focus on gender issues.
This will be achieved by:
- Disseminating information within the Faculty regarding equality and diversity initiatives across College and to share information about departmental level activities in these areas.
- Supporting and encouraging departmental level Athena SWAN applications through the sharing of information about good practices, activities and applications feedback across the Faculty.
- Ensuring that factors that might disadvantage any particular groups of individuals are brought to the attention of the Faculty.
- Recommending and developing cross Faculty initiatives and activities that will ensure there is a level playing field for all staff.
Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty and the College's Athena committee, the AOC consists of the following members:
- Faculty Ambassador for Women (Chair)
- Athena Swan Application Coordinator or other representative from each department
- Representative from Equality and Diversity Unit
- Representative from HR (for Faculty of Engineering)
- Head of Postdoc Development Unit
Women in Engineering forum
The Women in Engineering forum meets termly and provides an environment for women across the Faculty to socialise and discuss a range of topics from career progression, overcoming obstacles and recognising achievements.
To find out more about the forum, please contact Su Nandy.
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