1. Faculty of Biological Sciences
  2. Athena SWAN

Athena SWAN

What is Athena SWAN?

Professor Julie Aspden co-leads the Faculty of Biological Sciences' Athena Swan Group

Proud owners of the Athena SWAN Silver Award

The Athena SWAN charter recognises commitment to advancing the careers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine.

Athena Swan

Our renewed Silver Award, valid until November 2030, supports the University’s EDI strategy, to be a place where every person is accepted as equal, inspired to participate and empowered to succeed. 

In achieving this award, we demonstrated significant progress against our previous action plan set out in our initial Silver Award, received in 2019. Some notable successes since then include (but are not limited to): 

  • Improved wellbeing room and baby change facilities 
  • Increased representation of women in faculty seminars. 
  • Successful engagement with PDRA events, such as the Coffee & Careers meetings with non-academic guest speakers to increase awareness of alternatives to academic roles and provide career guidance. 
  • Increase in percentage of female grade 8 academics. 
  • Increasing numbers of academic staff across all grades applying for promotion. 

Action Plan 2025-2030

We will now work through our Athena Swan Silver Action Plan 2025-30. The action plan focuses on key priorities that were identified through data analysis and consultation with colleagues. 

  1. Action Plan Implementation and Governance (Self-Assessment Team Membership & Data Subgroup)
  2. Culture and Engagement (Understanding Mental Health & Communication Strategy)
  3. Career Development (Time Between Appointment and Application for Promotion)
  4. Student Education (Gender Parity Among UGs Undertaking Study Abroad or Industry Placements & Improve degree classification for undergraduate men)

If you would like to be involved in our Athena Swan initiative, please contact one of the following:

Alison Divine (BMS EDI Lead & Athena Swan Academic Lead)

Alison Dunn (Biology EDI Lead)

Erica Wilson (MCB EDI Lead)

Chiara Gorrini (MCB EDI Lead)

Helen Griffiths (Project Officer)

Funding opportunities

There are a number of funding opportunities available for scientists at an early stage of their research careers and support for those returning to work. 

Supporting trans staff and students

The University celebrates and values the diversity of its staff and students and believes that the employment and inclusion of trans people at all levels of responsibility and trans students within our community enriches our University environment. 

The University will treat all trans employees and students with respect and strive to provide a positive working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation, to enable them to achieve the best outcomes.

For more guidance to support trans staff and students, please refer to the University's Guidance for Trans Staff and Students.

Role Models

To celebrate diversity within people's career paths we have generated our footsteps brochure as well as case studies of members of staff and students.