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Psychological Sciences gains Athena SWAN Bronze Award

Award recognises Department’s its commitment to tackling gender inequality

Birkbeck’s Department of Psychological Sciences has today received an Athena Swan Bronze Award in recognition of its commitment to tackling gender inequality.

Established in 2005, the Athena SWAN Charter aims to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.

The Department’s application was overseen by Chair of the Athena SWAN Psychology self-assessment committee, Professor Matthew Longo.

Head of the Department of Psychological Sciences, Professor Mike Oaksford said: “I am immensely grateful to Prof Matt Longo and the rest of our Athena Swan working group for the hard work and dedication that went into this submission.

“Making the submission has given us all time to reflect on our practices and make changes to ensure that we support equality and keep on our guard against discrimination in all its forms. This is another proud achievement for the Department.”

Dr Belinda Brooks-Gordon, Assistant Dean for Equalities in the School of Science and based in Psychological Sciences said: “It is wonderful for the School of Science to receive its second departmental award”.

“We are proud of Professor Matthew Longo who chaired the self assessment team, of Professor Mike Oaksford, and the whole Psychological Sciences Team. The change that earned this award and reflects the department has been hard work but well worth it.”

“The Athena Swan journey is a necessary and a satisfying one. We are working the Birkbeck School of Science to bring about change and hope that the wider progress is reflected in future awards.”

Professor David Latchman, Master of Birkbeck and Chair of the college’s Athena SWAN self-assessment committee, added: “I am delighted to hear of the Department’s success in receiving the Athena Swan Bronze Award and thoroughly congratulate the team for their hard work which went into achieving this impressive result. 

“Birkbeck has invested significantly in its Athena SWAN strategies in the past two years and this is further proof of our commitment to those aims."

The award for Psychological Sciences follows that of Biological Sciences. 

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