Academia

University Physics Department Site Visits

The Institute is dedicated to addressing the gender balance in UK university physics departments, and since 2003, has been involved in a Site Visit Scheme . This initiative was based on a similar programme developed by the American Physical Society (click here to view the American scheme). The aims of the project were to visit departments round the country and monitor the gender culture within the departments and see how these affect the women who choose to work in that environment. Teams of volunteers working in various sectors of physics based employment were invited into different physics departments to talk to staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students, and observe how ‘female friendly’ the departments were. Publicity material, available statistics and other data were also reviewed, and all findings were reported in confidence to the head of department, with recommendations made for positive change. The Institute was invited into over 40% of the physics departments in the UK; a report based on the findings will be made available later this year.

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