The Department of Physics has been awarded an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of its achievements in improving the working life and employment practices for everyone, especially women, in the Department. The Department is one of two Physics departments to receive Silver awards this year and becomes the first department in the University of Cambridge to achieve this high standard.

The Athena SWAN Charter recognises and celebrates good employment practice for women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) in  higher education and research (http://www.athenaswan.org.uk/html/athena-swan/).

The author of the Department's application, Professor Val Gibson, commented "I am delighted that the commitment of the Physics Department to women in science and to providing a working environment and culture that is open and fair to all has been recognized with the Athena SWAN Silver award. This accolade provides us with a concrete foundation upon which to build  our activities, particularly in the areas of career advice, recruitment  and promotion of women physicists at all levels."

During the application process, the Cavendish Personnel Committee has worked hard to gather data, to solicit views from a broad cross- section of staff and to encourage participation in career development opportunities. The Department's action plan will now be used to initiate further developments, including the establishment of a Research Staff Committee and re- vitalised mentoring scheme.

More details can be found here:-