Informatics' Equality and Diversity Blog

February 23, 2017

Contribution Rewards: Academic Staff

Filed under: Awards,General — hwalker2 @ 1:24 pm

Does an academic you know deserve a Sustained Excellence Contribution (Increment) or Single Exceptional Contribution (Lump Sum payment)?

The deadline for nominations for Academic Staff Contribution Rewards is 9am Monday 13 March.

See guidance and forms at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-reward/contribution/contribution-reward

Please use the *word* version of the relevant form and return to infhr@inf.ed.ac.uk

Before submission to College, confirmation is required that a P&DR /annual review has been completed in the last 12 months for ALL individual cases coming forward and for ALL direct reports that the employee manages.

For further information email Irene Madison: imadison@inf.ed.ac.uk

February 22, 2017

Opinion paper: Gender diversity leads to better science

Filed under: Research,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 5:08 pm

According to an opinion piece in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, data from a number of studies supports the argument that gender diversity enhances knowledge outcomes.

“Encouraging greater diversity is not only the right thing to do,” say the authors, “it allows scientific organisations to derive an ‘innovation dividend’ that leads to smarter, more creative teams, hence opening the door to new discoveries.”

Here’s the paper: http://www.pnas.org/content/114/8/1740.full

 

Thanks to Meriem El Karoui (Edinburgh, Biological Sciences) for circulating the link via College E&D Committee.

February 20, 2017

1 Day Without Us

Filed under: Events,Race (protected characteristic) — hwalker2 @ 12:46 pm

Informatics InternationalInformatics has celebrated ‘1 Day Without Us’, the National Day of Action to celebrate the contribution of migrants to the UK, with a coffee morning.

Staff and postgraduate students also gathered in the Atrium of the Forum on Friday for photographs to celebrate our diversity.

Prof Bob Fisher summed up the feelings of many when he circulated an email saying: “I know that there are a lot of external controversies about immigration. I’ve been here a long time and always felt welcome by the people I’ve met and enjoyed seeing how our diversity has grown. I want to say how proud I am of my colleagues and the working environment in Informatics and the University. Informatics is a very diverse group of people, and that’s part of what makes it an effective as well as interesting place to work. Informatics celebrates our diversity. Irrespective of the political storms outside (which come and go), the University continues to do the right thing: create and disseminate knowledge, prepare the next generation at all levels.”

Thanks to Kyriakos Kalorkoti (KK) for the photo and Kasia Kokowska, Ségo Gallus and Effie McDonald for the delicious cookies, cheesecake and scones.

February 14, 2017

Festival of Creative Learning

Filed under: Encouraging STEM subjects,Events,Gender reassignment (protected characteristic),Sexual orientation (protected characteristic),Training,Uncategorized — hwalker2 @ 12:03 pm

As well as interesting events about matters digital*, next week’s Festival of Creative Learning, 20-24 February, includes a Reflection on Equality and Diversity in the Workplace led by Ben Lyon, Chair of OUTbound, Transport for London’s LGBT+ Staff Network Group.

(*Events about matters digital include Edinburgh IoT Challenge, Learn to Code, UNA – Network Based Explorations, Design the Future of Digital Education, Data and Democracy and an Environment Now Thinkspiration workshop among others).

February 13, 2017

Get on your soapbox for science

Filed under: Encouraging STEM subjects,Events,Girls in STEM,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 11:48 am

Edinburgh will be hosting Soapbox Science again this year and the call for speakers is now open. Deadline for applications: Friday 24 February 2017.

If you are female, an academic scientist, researcher or PhD student and are keen to share your science with the people of Edinburgh, apply using the following link:

http://soapboxscience.org/

Soapbox Science will take place on the Mound precinct, Saturday 22 July 2017.

Soapbox Science has been running for 5 years in cities across the UK and has attracted media coverage including BBC, Guardian, Time Out, Times (Eureka), Nature, Science and New Scientist.

Informatics postgraduate Sorcha Gilroy took part last year.

Code First: Girls Northern Conference 2017

Filed under: Events,Girls in STEM,Sex (protected characteristic),Uncategorized,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 10:43 am

Are you female/non-binary, aged 18+ and interested in technology and entrepreneurship? Applications close this Wednesday 15 February for Code First: Girls Northern Conference 2017, to be held Friday 3 March 2017, 10am-5pm at the PwC Office, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh.

Aims of the event:

1) Inspire and empower young women /non-binary people to start a career in technology and entrepreneurship
2) Demystify the tech industry and provide an understanding of what it takes to succeed

Further details here: http://www.codefirstgirls.org.uk/cfg-northern-conference-2017.html

February 9, 2017

EPSRC survey of diversity and inclusion barriers in ICT research

Filed under: Age (protected characteristic),bias and unconscious bias,Race (protected characteristic),Sex (protected characteristic),Uncategorized,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 7:27 pm

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has commissioned Napier University to carry out a survey in the UK of staff and research postgraduates researching Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), to investigate barriers around diversity and inclusion.

The survey will be open until 28 February 2017.

Take part here: https://www.research.net/r/diversityICT

Nominations open for WISE Awards 2017

Filed under: Awards,Encouraging STEM subjects,Events,Girls in STEM,Uncategorized,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 3:45 pm

Nominations are now open for the WISE Awards which recognise inspiring organisations and individuals actively addressing promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics to girls and women.

The categories are:

  • WISE Toy Award sponsored by Thales
  • WISE Talent Award sponsored by AWE
  • WISE Apprenticeship Programme Award sponsored by Aveva
  • WISE Employer Award sponsored by BAM Nuttall
  • WISE Man Award sponsored by MBDA
  • WISE World Award sponsored by Babcock
  • WISE Tech Innovation Award sponsored by Goldman Sachs
  • WISE Technology & Engineering in Health sponsored by the Chief Scientific Officer at NHS England
  • WISE Woman in Industry sponsored by Rolls Royce PLC
  • WISE One to Watch Award sponsored by Intel

Further details are given below. Nominations close 5pm Friday 23 June 2017.

WISE Toy Award
For the best toy or game for girls (up to age 11) to get them excited about science, technology, engineering, and maths.

WISE Talent Award
Highlighting a recruitment campaign that has proved effective for getting women into science, technology, engineering, or construction – in jobs, board roles, apprenticeships or as students.

WISE Apprenticeship Programme Award
For the best apprenticeship programme for women’s recruitment, participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing, or other apprenticeship framework where women are in a minority.

WISE Employer Award
For a WISE member company or organisation evidencing great things. Nominees must demonstrate progress in gender balance at all levels and above industry averages.

WISE Man Award
This Award is for men who are agents of change, improving gender balance in their organisation and beyond. Judges will be looking for evidence of their actions in education or industry that go beyond their day job and which have delivered results.

WISE World Award
This category is for nominees who are making a difference to society and have an inspirational story which will capture the imagination of girls; showing them that through science, technology and engineering they could make a difference, not only to people’s lives, but also influencing big societal challenges like the environment, food production, safe transport, and cybercrime.

WISE Tech Innovation Award
Are you a woman or female team working in a tech start-up, open source, gaming, cyber security, web development or for an app? Nominations are welcomed from individuals or a team or project. Judges will be looking for an emphasis on creativity and innovation in the use of technology that will inspire other women to follow your example.

WISE Technology & Engineering in Health
This Award champions a woman who uses science, technology, and engineering to improve health. Judges will be looking for evidence of collaboration between health and other sectors/industries. Nominees are asked to present evidence of the health advances delivered through technology, physics or engineering in patient care, treatment or diagnosis, and to demonstrate how these advances link with the wider picture of scientific and technological innovation.

WISE Woman in Industry
For a woman in a STEM career and in a leadership role, but not necessarily on a board. You will have broken through the glass ceiling and will inspire others by showing what it is possible to achieve. You may have occasionally appeared in the media or spoken at industry events, but not received honours and are not widely known in business or the media. WISE are looking for new faces who could sit on boards, be a speaker and a role model to show women at the early stages of their career what they can achieve.

WISE One to Watch Award
This Award is designed to identify and share the amazing stories of girls and young women who are passionate about science, engineering, maths and technology and good at what they do – particularly girls who would not otherwise have thought STEM was for them. Open to women aged 21 and under on the date of the Awards, 9 November 2017, who are trailblazing and will light a fire under the next generation. The winner will be chosen from 10 finalists on the night via audience participation.

Find out more here: https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/wise-awards/wise-awards-2017

BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium 2017: Call for student abstracts

Filed under: Events,Girls in STEM,Uncategorized,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 1:47 pm

The BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium is an annual one day conference for women students of computing and related subjects.  This year it will be at Aberystwyth University, 12 April 2017.

The Colloquium offers talks, networking opportunities and an opportunity for students to showcase/discuss their work in the form of a poster contest, with cash prizes provided by industry sponsors. Google have sponsored all events to date, enabling the organisers to cover travel costs (and overnight accommodation if necessary) for all students in the poster contest.

Student poster contest: deadline 17 February 2017

To enter the poster contest, students should submit a 250 word abstract on any computer related topic by 17 February 2017.

Categories:

  • Best first year poster for students who are in their first year of study at a UK university. This category is also open to students in a Foundation year.
  • Best second year poster for students in their second year of study at a UK university (also those on an industrial year or 3rd year of a 4 year degree – basically this is for students between their first and final years).
  • Best final year undergraduate poster for students in their final year of study for a BA, BSc, BEng, or in the penultimate year of an MEng (this will often be the 3rd year, but may be the fourth or fifth year, if the student has taken a year abroad, year in industry, or is studying for a 4 year Scottish degree).
  • Best Masters student poster for students doing a taught masters degree, or who are in the final year of an MEng or similar integrated 4-5 year course resulting in a masters.

For more information go to: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/cs/engagement/lovelace-colloquium/colloquium2017/abstracts/#d.en.161125

February 8, 2017

See ‘Eat. Sleep. STEM. Repeat’ at FanDuel

Filed under: Encouraging STEM subjects,Events,Girls in STEM,Uncategorized,Women in STEM — hwalker2 @ 2:07 pm

The Scotland premier of the Stemette film “Eat. Sleep. STEM. Repeat” – a short film on women tackling the gender stereotypes in STEM – will take place 5.30-8pm Fri 24 March 2017 at FanDuel, Quartermile, One Lauriston Place, Edinburgh.

Hear from Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Emma McGuigan and Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on the greatest challenge facing our innovative STEM industry.

FanDuel was founded by Informatics alumni Tom Griffiths and Chris Stafford, and is now one of the highest profiting and most successful tech/engineering companies in Europe. If you attend this event, you will get a tour, hear from women working at FanDuel and see what a potential future a FanDuel could look like.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eat-sleep-stem-repeat-film-screening-and-tour-edinburgh-tickets-31481608338

Next Page »

Theme: Rubric.