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Athena Swan - gender equality charter

Department of Pharmacology: Athena SWAN SILVER application and action plan

You said... we Did - actions based on survey feedback 2018-2021

Pharmacology Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team

What does Athena SWAN mean to you?

Athena Swan Silver Award logoWe were delighted to be successful with our Silver Award Application in 2022. We are working on creating equality in our Department through feedback mechanisms such as surveys and focus groups. The Athena Swan committee meets regularly to review and improve our practices to ensure that equality becomes part of our everyday activities.  In the last few months, we have implemented the following improvements:

  • Social Fridays - including Free Cake Friday and the Monthly Pharmacology Social
  • Establishing PDRs in the Department for all staff
  • Creating a Research Staff and Student Network for collaborating with colleagues and holding events and workshops

Actions currently being developed include:

  • Improvements to the Department's induction processes
  • Activities to increase the uptake of training by academic and research staff
  • Creating opportunities for more staff to be involved in grant applications and sourcing their own funding
  • Providing mentoring and buddy schemes to provide individual support for postdocs and fellows.

The Equality Challenge Unit’s (ECU) Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 with the aim to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research. The charter has since expanded to recognise work undertaken in the disciplines of arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL). 

Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Charter covers women (and men where appropriate) in:

  • academic roles in STEMM and AHSSBL
  • professional and support staff
  • trans staff and students

 In relation to their:

  • representation
  • progression of students into academia
  • journey through career milestones
  • working environment for all staff