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Athena SWAN at Bangor

Bangor University is fully committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN charter and is working towards ensuring that these principles become embedded within the University’s policies, practices, actions plans and culture.

Bangor University has held an Athena SWAN Bronze award since 2011 (renewed in 2014). In 2016 the University Athena SWAN group became a full task group (chaired by Prof Jo-Rycroft-Malone, the Pro VC for Research & Impact) and as such reports directly to the University Executive. The group is made up of the Athena SWAN leads from Schools and Colleges, the Director of REO, the Director of Graduate Research, the Deputy Director of HR (Development) and the Athena SWAN & Concordat Manager. The Athena SWAN group meets four times year; minutes from meetings and terms of reference can be found here.

Three Schools have achieved a Bronze award - the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (2015), the School of Psychology (2016) and the School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography (2016). Other Schools have put together self-assessment teams and are working towards developing their applications for departmental awards.

The Athena SWAN charter was expanded in 2015 to include all university departments; the charter had previously only covered STEMM subjects. At Bangor, this means that all Schools in CAH and COBLESS can now also apply for Athena SWAN awards. The University will apply for a Bronze institutional award under the extended Athena SWAN charter mark in April 2018.

Recent Athena SWAN events and initiatives include:

  • “Paths to progress” -  International Women’s Day 2017. This event featured presentations from Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research & Impact), Professor Morag McDonald, (SENRGy); and Professor Emily Cross (Psychology).  Guest speakers at the event were Bangor University honorary fellow, Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy and the Governance of Wales at the Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University; and Dr Leonie Jones, Department of Chemistry, University of York. The speakers reflected on the progress that has been made towards gender equality and culture change in the context of Bangor University, Wales, and UK Universities, as well as the paths, journeys and challenges that still lay ahead.
  • In recognition of Bangor University’s activity and progress in terms of supporting the career development of women, the University won the ‘Employer of the Year’ (public sector) category in the Chwarae Teg ‘Womenspire’ awards in 2016.
  • Bangor University awarded its first Women in Science Scholarship to Elizabeth McManus in 2015. The Scholarship enabled Elizabeth to undertake an MSc in Neuroimaging in the School of Psychology. Elizabeth is now a PhD student at the University of Manchester in the Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology. The Women in Science scholarships 2016/17 were awarded to three outstanding students who are currently enrolled in MSc courses: Emily Louise Dunn (School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences), Emily O’Regan (School of Biological Sciences) and Kathryn Howard (School of Electronic Engineering).

Bangor University Athena SWAN applications and action plans:

For more information regarding Athena SWAN please contact Dr Alison Wiggett a.wiggett@bangor.ac.uk.