The School of Biological Sciences is a recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Gold Award in recognition of our sustained commitment to gender equality.

The School was first awarded Gold in 2012 and became the first School of Biological Sciences in the UK to achieve this national recognition.

The School renewed its Athena Swan Gold Award in 2020, making it a third, consecutive Gold for the School.

Commenting on the latest round of Athena Swan awards, Head of School, Professor Geoff McMullan:

"We are striving to develop a working environment that recognises the values and talents of all."

“ I hope this latest recognition will spur us on to even greater achievements in research and education so that our School and research institute IGFS continue to be workplaces with high levels of career satisfaction and to which all staff - whether academic, research, clerical, technical or professional - are proud to belong."

Swan Champion for the School:

“Achieving Athena SWAN gold underscores the commitment the School of Biological Science management has towards equality, diversity and inclusivity. Since our last SWAN award, our actions have led to a marked increased in the number of females at all academic levels and we have impressively gone from 2 to 10 female professors."

"But more than that, the success of SWAN within our school is a reflection of people’s willingness to engage with the process, and to support the SWAN self-assessment team. Over time I believe more people have become aware that by promoting the SWAN agenda, everyone, regardless of what category they belong to in the school, benefits from the outcomes of our work."

"The school as a whole should be very proud of this achievement and strive not only maintain this high standard in fairness and equality, but to keep reaching higher.”

Professor Karen McCloskey, Director of Queen's Gender Initiative:

“Congratulations to all colleagues who have contributed towards our four Athena SWAN Gold and Silver Award renewals and, of course, to colleagues in the School of Management who have now secured a Bronze Award. We all have a role to play in advancing gender equality and I am delighted to see colleagues driving this agenda in their academic areas and achieving this important recognition of their efforts."

View our Gold Award application form and submission feedback below:

SBS 2019 Gold Renewal Action Plan (Currently under review)

Athena SWAN Gold department application form

Athena SWAN Award submission feedback

The Equality Challenge Unit's (ECU) Athena SWAN (Scientific Women's Academic Network) 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.  Queen's University Belfast, was a founder member of the Athena SWAN Charter.

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.

The School of Biological Sciences is fully committed to the aims of this Charter.