Athena SWAN milestone

Two schools and a research institute have been acknowledged with Athena SWAN awards for promoting gender equality in the workplace.

The School of Physics & Astronomy received silver status, the Roslin Institute upgraded from bronze to silver, and the School of Biomedical Sciences renewed its silver status.

Advancing careers

The Athena SWAN Awards recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) academia. They are awarded biannually as Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Earlier this year, a bronze award was given jointly to the Schools of Clinical Sciences and Molecular, Genetic & Population Health Sciences.

This latest recognition is a milestone for the University: all Schools within the Colleges of Science & Engineering and Medicine & Veterinary Medicine now hold Athena SWAN awards.

Equality charter marks

Edinburgh was awarded its first Athena SWAN University Bronze in 2006 and successfully renewed it in 2009 and again in 2012.

It is one of the original members of the Athena SWAN Charter, which was launched in 2005 and now has more than 100 member universities and research institutes.

Athena SWAN is one of three equality charter marks developed by the Equality Challenge Unit. The marks aim to transform gender and race equality in higher education.

Earlier this year, the College of Humanities & Social Science had double success with the school of Divinity and the Institute for Sport, Physical Education & Health sciences receiving bronze Gender Equality Marks.

The College also holds three bronze Athena SWAN awards, in the School of Health in Social Science, the Psychology department (within the School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences) and Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture (within ECA).