Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has achieved an institutional Bronze Award for Athena SWAN of the Equality Challenge Unit. It is a recognition of LSTM’s success in developing institutional employment practices to further and support the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) departments in academia.
LSTM Director Janet Hemingway said: ‘I am delighted that we have achieved this award. After having been designated a Higher Education Institution in July last year we immediately signed up to the Athena Swan charter so that we could apply for the Bronze Award. It is such an important recognition of all our efforts in further enhancing the careers of women in science, which ultimately will benefit all of our employees.’
LSTM has a very strong research programme in gender and equity and many of the outputs of this group can be used to inform LSTMs own activities. Hence institutional support within LSTM for the principals and ideals of Athena Swan charter is very strong throughout the organisations management.
LSTM adheres to a full range of policies and procedures to ensure family-friendly working and transparent recruitment and promotion procedures. ‘Having received the Bronze Award is proof of our commitment to equal opportunities for all of our employees’, said Chris Greenway, Director Human Resources of LSTM. ‘This award demonstrates our commitment to our staff. We hope that planned enhancement of our strategic development programme will lead to Silver status in the near future.’
The award, valid until April 2017, was granted by a panel of experts with a professional background in STEMM and equality and diversity.
Athena Swan is a charter that recognises the institutional commitment to advance women’s careers in science . The Charter is managed by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) and is funded by ECU, the Royal Society, the Biochemical Society and the Department of Health.