Cavendish Laboratory Equality, Diversity and Inclusiveness

The Cavendish Laboratory is committed to providing a community where all have the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are incredibly proud of our efforts over the last 5-10 years which have increased the representation of women throughout our teaching and research activities. This has been accompanied by a culture change at every level which has greatly improved equality, diversity and inclusiveness within the department. We are currently working on efforts to target EDI issues surrounding race and LGBTQ+.


Cavendish Commmunity Forum
The Cavendish Community Forum was formed in 2019 and continues the efforts of the Athena Swan Self-Assessment team 2016-2018.

Terms Of Reference

• To grow our diverse, equal, and inclusive community here at the Cavendish for all staff, students, and visitors;
• To create a representative and inclusive community here at the Cavendish, with equal opportunities for all;
• To provide a forum for the discussion of issues regarding equality, diversity, inclusiveness, well-being;
• To better understand factors contributing to an environment that may be less welcoming to underrepresented groups, and constitute barriers to the creation of an equal, representative, and inclusive community;
• To consider areas for development and make recommendations regarding the community to the Department;
• To monitor and maintain the Athena Swan Action Plan and ensure items are addressed; (the delivery of Athena Swan and Juno schemes is mandated by the Personnel Committee)
• To provide support and guidance for initiatives such as Wellbeing and CiW within the Department.

Who is involved?

Everyone! Representatives at the CCF are

• Dr. Tina Potter (chair), Academic
• Liz Hewitt (secretary), HR
• Prof. Andy Parker, HoD
• Gillian Weale, Departmental Administrator
• Prof. Val Gibson, Academic, University of Cambridge Equality Champion
• Helen Marshall, Undergraduate Administrator
• Sol Miah, HR & Events Mott Hub
• Prof. Ulrich Keyser, Academic, Director of Graduate Education
• Dr. Ulrich Schneider, Academic, Director of Undergraduate Education
• Dr. Rachael Padman, Academic, Director of Education
• Dr. Suchitra Sebastian, Academic
• Hope Bretcher, PhD student, CiW representative
• David Rudderham, Soft Facilities Coordinator
• Dr. Beth Tennyson, Research Staff
• Prof. Pietro Cicuta, Academic
• Mike Moriarty, Head of IT
• Richard King, Undergraduate Laboratory Manager
• Dr. Sarah Williams, College Lecturer at Murray Edwards
• Peter Norman, Laboratory Superintendent
• Gina Warren, School of Physical Sciences E & D consultant

Recent Efforts Include

• Athena SWAN GOLD awarded to 2022. 2018 Application and Action Plan.
• Cavendish Prism, our LGBTQ+ network on Twitter, sign up here
• Cavendish Inspiring Womxn (CiW), our student-led committee