The University of Yorks commitment to women in science has been recognised by three national accolades.
York was the first University in Yorkshire to win the Athena Swan Bronze Award from the Royal Society in recognition of its success in providing positive support for women scientists during their careers. Now the Departments of Biology and Chemistry have both won Silver Athena Swan awards, which recognise their achievement in having action plans and demonstrating progress on gender equality in science, engineering and technology (SET).
York is the only University to have won two departmental Silver Athena Swan awards, and the Yorks is the only Biology department in the country to have achieved a Silver award. It is one of a total of only 12 UK universities that have won Athena Swan awards.
The Governments Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Sir David King will present the awards to the University at the Royal Society on 13 March 2007.
The Athena Swan Charter is a scheme that recognises excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education. The University is working to attract women into science, both in academic and technical capacities. It is seeking to retain those women who might otherwise drift away by introducing more flexibility into the workforce and, at the same time, creating a better work environment for all staff.
Head of the Department of Chemistry, Professor Paul Walton, said: "Equal opportunities, particularly career paths for women scientists, are something that the department takes very seriously indeed. I am, therefore, really delighted that the chemistry department has received this national award in further recognition of its work in this area.
Head of the Department of Biology, Professor Dale Sanders, said: "The award recognises the dedicated efforts and achievements in the area of equal opportunities of a number of staff in the Biology Department
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Contact: David Garner
dcg501@york.ac.uk
01-904-432-153
University of York
14-Mar-2007