The Athena SWAN Initiative

In this section
The Athena SWAN Initiative
Initiative

The School of Natural and Computing Sciences currently holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award.

The Athena Swan Charter was established in 2005 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.

In May 2015 the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Within the School of Natural and Computing Sciences we are very much aware of gender imbalance, particularly within Computing Science (a national if not international issue), and of the low number of female academic staff. Having said that, we have seen progression of women into more senior academic positions in recent years and we will continue to improve our actions around recruitment, retention and progression for the benefit of all.

The University pages for Athena SWAN can be found here .

Professor Jan Skakle
Co-lead, School EDI Champion

Further information

Athena SWAN Bronze Award logo

Seld Assessment Team

The following is our current Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee who are also the steering group for Athena Swan.

Role

Name

Discipline

School EDI Lead (Chair) and Athena Swan co-lead

Jan Skakle

PX

Athena Swan co-lead

Alan McCue

CM

Rep from School Education Committee

Bill Harrison

CM

Rep from School Research Committee

Nir Oren

CS

Race Equality Champion

Juliano Morimoto

MX/Biological Sciences

School Disability Adviser

Nigel Beacham

CS

LGBT+ Network Representative

Ehud Meir

MX

HR Representative & School Athena Swan Officer

Maria Cascio

/

School Admin Manager (or nominee)

Julie Timms

/

Technical Staff Rep

Brian Paterson

CM

Head of School (ex officio)

David McGloin

(PX)

Student Representatives (UG)

Mihail Beshkov

CS

Maria Giordiani

PX

Student Representative (PGT)

Ahmed Kamel

Data Science

Student Representative (PGR)

Baylee Schutte

MX

ECR (Funding Limited Contract)

Sylvia Soldatou

CM

Vacancy

Information Zone

Within this section you will find useful information for all staff, some general and some related to Athena SWAN, such as University Policies, School Information and Initiatives and relevant links.

School Information

Here we will add in guidance notes and School initiatives which may be of interest.

School-specific information can be found here:

Title

Information

PhD funding (Staff)
50-50 studentships (co-sponsored) Where a staff member has at least 50% funding from another source (e.g. industry) the School may be able to co-fund. Please fill in the attached form to make a request.
Travel
Travel support fund for ECRs ECRs are those within 5 years of appointment to a lectureship and all eligible can apply for support to attend conferences. Information and forms.
Carer Support Fund for Conferences A fund to assist with care of children, parents/elders or other dependants for staff wishing to travel to conferences. Information and forms.
Travel support fund for Teaching (Scholarship) appointments A fund for support to attend teaching-related events and conferences, aimed at those on Teaching (Scholarship) track. Information and forms .
Sabbaticals
Post-leave Sabbaticals For those who have had an extended break (6 months or more) from the University
In-service sabbaticals For those who, with the agreement of Heads of Discipline, wish to block teaching into one half-session
Full Sabbaticals Taking over the College policy of allowing 6 months sabbatical.
Other information
Health and Safety for all Health and Safety page:https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/information/health-safety-530.php
Postdoctoral Academic Managers “Champions” for postdoctoral researchers. Document outlining role and role of PIs can be found here .
Workload Spreadsheet Link coming soon.
Inclusive language Advice on the use of inclusive language .

All staff must complete the Equality and Diversity training modules (including PDRAs). All staff involved in teaching must additionally complete that module. More information can be found here :

University-Level Information

Information

Link

Staff coming to Aberdeen - information www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/new-starter-induction-110.php
HR information:
  • Recruitment & Selection
  • Getting Started
  • Your Development
  • Holidays, Leave, Sickness absence
  • Benefits (Pay, Pensions)
  • Your Wellbeing
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/hr-handbook

Equality and Diversity Training

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/your-responsibilities-3690

Adoption, Maternity, Paternity, Co-maternity, Parental and Shared-parental Leave Information

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/policies-guidance-3691

Employee Wellbeing

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/sport-and-exercise-1188.php

Committees of the University

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/governance/minutes-and-agendas-135.php

Promotions Information

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/promotions-948.php

Redeployment information (“Avoidance of Redundancy” for those on funding-limited contracts)

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/redeployment-1396.php

Equality and Diversity (University)

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/governance/equality-and-diversity-277.php

Mentoring

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/mentoring-3099.php