University news

The University of Glasgow has been recognised by the Institute of Physics (IOP) for efforts made to reduce gender inequality among academic staff working in Physics. 

Glasgow was one of three universities, and the first in Scotland, to be commended by the IOP’s Juno Code of Practice which seeks to redress a long-sustained issue of under-representation of women at the very highest level of physics academia in the UK and Ireland.

While approximately 20% of the UK’s physics undergraduates and lecturers are female, the same can only be said of 5% of professors.

Following in the footsteps of Imperial College and University of Warwick – the inaugural Juno Champions – the Universities of Glasgow, York and Royal Holloway (part of the University of London) have now been awarded the status of Juno Practitioner, which is a large step towards becoming fully-fledged Champions.

The Juno Practitioner level was designed to reward progress made by departments towards ensuring equal opportunity to all – to be seen as a staging post towards becoming a Juno Champion.

Professor Andrew Long, Head of Physics at The University of Glasgow, said: “In Glasgow we have found the Juno process very useful not only in highlighting areas where gender equality might be improved, but also in identifying areas where our provision for both genders could be strengthened.”

Jennifer Dyer, Diversity Programme Leader at IOP, said: “We are delighted to recognise and reward physics departments on their journeys towards becoming Champions. Embedding the Juno principles across the department will have a positive impact on the working lives of all staff.

“Examples of change in working practice that have been proven to reduce gender inequality, like increasing the transparency of procedures involved in promotion, are the sort of things that departments must do to gain recognition. All the departments involved have found that frank and open discussions about gender issues in the workplace have led to a happier workforce.”

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For more information contact Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 4831 or email s.forsyth@admin.gla.ac.uk or Joe Winters at the IOP on 0207 470 4815 or email joseph.winters@iop.org

Notes to Editors
Juno Code of Practice and levels of engagement
The Institute of Physics (IOP)’s Code of Practice was developed in response to a recommendation of the International Perceptions of UK Research in Physics and Astronomy report that a special focus to attract and retain women in physics is needed. The Code is based on best practice identified from IOP’s “Women in University Physics Departments: a Site Visit Scheme”, which ran from 2003 to 2005. It sets out practical ideas for actions that departments can take to address the under-representation of women in university physics and emphasises the need for dialogue, transparency and openness.

There are three levels of engagement with the Code. As a Supporter, physics departments endorse the five principles set out in the Code of Practice. Practitioner status requires the department to demonstrate that its Juno journey is well underway and an initial evidence-based action plan demonstrating how the department aims to achieve Champion status is created.  As a Champion, physics departments are confirmed to have met the five principles set out. There are now two Champion departments, three Practitioners and 24 Supporters.

For further information, go to http://www.iop.org/activity/diversity/initiatives/juno/page_38467.html    

The Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of more than 36 000 and is a leading communicator of physics-related science to all audiences, from specialists through to government and the general public. Its publishing company, IOP Publishing, is a world leader in scientific publishing and the electronic dissemination of physics. Go to www.iop.org.  

First published: 22 April 2010