Athena SWAN award winners announced

Ten higher education institutions and science, engineering and technology (SET) departments have been commended for their employment practices that specifically further and support the careers of women.

The Athena SWAN Charter awards, which have been running since 2006, recognise the commitment of institutions and SET departments to addressing gender inequalities, to tackling the unequal representation of women in science and to improving career progression for female academics.

Sarah Hawkes oversees the Athena SWAN Charter and is based at main funders Equality Challenge Unit. Commenting on the awards, she said:

'The Athena SWAN Charter is now in its sixth year, and every year we see new initiatives and innovative ideas to support women in SET.

It is encouraging that universities are continuing to sign up to the Charter, and that we continue to see the full range of science, engineering and technology departments coming through every year, from biological sciences, through to physical sciences and engineering.

We've found that a greater number of mathematics departments are coming forward, and also submissions from disciplines allied to medicine. The message that gender disparities need to be, and can be, addressed is clearly being heard across the whole SET spectrum. It is this commitment to driving forward the agenda that the awards recognise and celebrate.'

The ten institutions and departments bring the total of Athena SWAN award holders to 87. The awards will be presented at a reception at the University of Nottingham on 4 October 2011. A report into the impact of Athena SWAN will be launched at the event, and a new Athena SWAN patron will also be announced.

Bronze university award

Recognising that the university has a solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff.

• University of Strathclyde

Bronze department award

Recognising that in addition to institution-wide policies the department has identified particular challenges and is planning activities to address these for the future.

• School of Maths and Physics, Queen's University Belfast
• School of Psychology, Cardiff University
• Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
• Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester
• School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham
• School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham

Silver award

Silver department awards recognise that in addition to institution-wide policies the department has a significant record of activity and achievement and has identified particular challenges, has implemented activities and can demonstrate their impact so far.

• Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh
• Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University
• Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London

Only one Gold Award has ever been presented to date (the Department of Chemistry, University of York). A second round of awards will be held later in the year.

About Athena SWAN

The Athena SWAN Charter and awards are funded by ECU, UKRC, the Royal Society, the Biomedical Society and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

• Athena SWAN website