The UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC)
held a workshop this month aimed at professional bodies in science, technology,
engineering and maths (STEM) interested in improving their equality and diversity
practices.
More than 30 representatives from the various STEM professional institutions
and societies attended the workshop held at the Institute of Physics in London.
The event, chaired by Peter Cotgreave, Head of Public Affairs at the Royal Society,
who will continue to champion the network as it moves forward, was designed to
establish and grow a network of institutes and societies. The network has been
founded by the UKRC and its core partners; the Institute of Physics, the Royal
Society of Chemistry and the Royal Academy of Engineering, under the name SPIDER
(STEM Professional Institutions Diversity & Equality Resources).
The workshop introduced the resources available through the network to help STEM
organisations enhance equality practices, showing how they can get involved and
explore what other bodies are doing to address diversity issues.
By becoming a part of the network, professional institutes make a commitment
to engage actively in adopting best practice to ensure diversity and equality
are fully integrated in all their activities.
Annette Williams, Director of the UKRC, commented: “In this time of heightened
skills shortages, the under-representation of women in STEM is a threat to UK
innovation because only a third of the half a million qualified in the subjects
actually work in the sector. The UKRC is committed to providing resources to women
and employers to help raise the participation and profile of women in STEM. As
leaders in their field, professional bodies need to respond to changing demographics
and developments in the composition of the professions linked to STEM, as well
as to the evolving policy and legislative context on equality and diversity.
It is also important that they model best practice within their own organisation
in order to embed equality and diversity in all aspects of their activity and
governance.”
The event also included talks from Julie Ashdown of the ATHENA SWAN Charter Equality
Challenge Unit, Bob Ditchfield of the Royal Academy of Engineering on the Diversity
in Engineering Campaign, and details about the UKRC’s CEO Charter; a charter which
organisations can sign up to in order to commit to a set of criteria around gender
equality and diversity.
Liam Cagney, Executive Assistant at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE),
attended the event. He commented: “I found the SPIDER workshop very informative.
Professional bodies in the sector must take positive steps towards acknowledging
diversity in all aspects of their activity to ensure continued leadership in the
future of their field. The UKRC’s CEO Charter is a good way for organisations
to show their commitment to improving equality in STEM.”
-ENDS-
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