The Department of Mathematics and the Information Security Group (ISG) at Royal Holloway, University of London have won a Bronze Athena SWAN award recognising their commitment and excellence in the advancement of gender equality. The award was announced on 15 October 2020 by Advance HE.
The Bronze Athena SWAN Award acknowledges the impact of collaborative efforts to support the development of equality, diversity and inclusion measures. Colleagues across both departments have pledged their support for actions that will promote gender equality and help to eliminate all discrimination.
These actions range from unconscious bias training, the creation of a new role of 'Early Career Advisor', and detailed plans to increase the number of women applicants for academic positions.
The Athena SWAN submission was led by Professor Mark Wildon, Equality and Diversity Champion for Mathematics and ISG and joint Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director for the School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences at Royal Holloway.
Speaking about winning the award, Professor Mark Wildon, said: “I am delighted that the hard work by all involved has been recognised by Advance HE and this award reflects our commitment to putting equality and diversity inclusivity at the heart of everything we do. I look forward to working with colleagues to implement our Action Plan. The risk that Covid-19 amplifies existing inequalities in society makes this more important than ever.”
The Department of Mathematics and ISG are linked by WISDOM (Women in the Security and/or Mathematics Domain); a group that includes both students and staff, offering a support network and fostering an inclusive environment where women can be encouraged into the fields of information security and maths.
Professor Katie Normington, Deputy Principal of Royal Holloway, said: “I am delighted that the innovative work that the Department of Mathematics and ISG have been doing around their WISDOM group to encourage women’s participation and progression and their other initiatives have been rewarded with the Athena SWAN Bronze award.”
Focusing on gender equality across departments
Royal Holloway is committed to the aims and principles of Athena SWAN and the majority of Royal Holloway’s STEMM departments hold Athena SWAN awards. This recognises the good practice and principles of equality which are firmly established in our ethos, and reflects the university’s original foundation in 1849 (Bedford College) and 1886 (Royal Holloway College) as among the first institutions offering higher education for women.
