Athena Swan
The University of Portsmouth is a member of the Athena SWAN charter and is committed to the advancement and promotion of careers for women in the disciplines of science, engineering and technology in both higher education and research.
In 2011 the University joined the Athena SWAN charter and made a commitment to the six charter principles. Among these was a commitment by the University to achieve a significant increase in the number of women recruited to top posts in the areas of science, engineering and technology (SET).
To achieve this, the organisation will look at and respond positively to changes that help us to implement the charter and achieve our goals. The key beliefs underpinning Athena SWAN are:
- The advancement of science, engineering and technology (SET) is fundamental to quality of life across the globe.
- It is vitally important that women are adequately represented in what has traditionally been, and is still, a male-dominated area.
- Science cannot reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of the whole population, and until women and men can benefit equally from the opportunities it affords.
This website has been developed to keep you up to date on the initiatives taking place in the institution to date and to provide contact details so that staff (both male and female) can become involved in helping the University to take the next step and achieve a Bronze award status for the organisation.
The L'Oréal UK & Ireland Fellowships For Women in Science
The L'Oréal UK & Ireland Fellowships For Women in Science were launched in January 2007. The Fellowships are awards offered by a partnership between L'Oréal UK & Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society. Four fellowships are awarded annually to outstanding female postdoctoral researchers. Each worth £15,000 (equivalent € for candidates in Ireland), the Fellowships are tenable at any UK or Irish university / research institute to support a 12-month period of postdoctoral research in any area of the life or physical sciences.
The fellowships have been designed to provide practical help for the winners to undertake research in their chosen fields. For example, winners may choose to spend their fellowship on buying scientific equipment, paying for child care costs, travel costs or indeed what ever they may need to continue their research.
Another important part of the fellowship programme is the support, training and networking opportunities that it provides. Fellows make valuable friendships and connections that can lead to interesting collaborations, publications and wider appreciation of their work.
The 2014 Fellowships will open on 1st February 2014 for applications.
For further information on the awards please see here.
Working Group on Women in Science (WISE)
The Working Group on Women in Science (WISE) was established in 2001. Its main objective is to facilitate awareness on the issue of Women in Science, to encourage people to participate actively in promoting gender equality in science, and to support the 43 Constituent Societies and academic institutions in these countries on the issue of Women in Science. The Working Group has organized workshops on the issue of Women in Science at several FEBS Congresses in recent years. Read more about the activities at the 2012 FEBS Congress in Sevilla in FEBS News (October 2012 issue, pages 11–12). Each year, FEBS and EMBO work together select one outstanding female scientist for FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award. Previous winners were Susan Gasser (2012), Carol Robinson (2011), Ingrid Grummt (2010), Anne Houdusse (2009) and Naama Barkai (2008). The winner of the 2013 FEBS/EMBO Women in Science Award is Geneviève Almouzni; click here for more information.
The nomination deadline for the 2014 FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award is 15 October 2013. The scientific community is encouraged to nominate women scientists working in Europe who have made outstanding contributions to life sciences research in their career and significantly advanced understanding of a particular discipline in the last five years. Their research can cover any area of the life sciences, including agricultural and medical research. The nominator is requested to submit a nomination letter and letters of support from two other scientists, along with the nominee's CV and publication list, by 15 October 2013. Further details and the link to nominate can be found here.
From 10 September 2012, the FEBS Working Group on Women in Science will be Chaired by Prof. Cecilia Arraiano.
For FEBS newsletters please see here.
The Royal Society looking to actively recruit more women Fellows into its ranks.
Fellows are elected through a peer review process that culminates in a vote by existing Fellows. Each year 44 Fellows, 8 Foreign Members and up to 1 Honorary Fellow are elected from a group of over 700 candidates who are proposed by the existing Fellowship. Please see here for further information and to apply.