Achievements

  • Since the project’s establishment in 1999 Athena’s work with its partner HEIs has improved the understanding of the SET and employment cultures of HE and has produced a wealth of evidence based good practice.

    Phase 1 of Athena’s work – 1999 to 2001 encouraging good practice

    Athena’s two development programmes supported good practice initiatives in twelve HEIs and five Local Academic Women’s Networks (LAWNs). Their good practice formed the basis of a range of good practice guides and reports (Athena Reports 1 to 16) on:

    • Personal and professional support and development, mentoring and networking
    • Career Progression, appointments and promotions
    • The organisation and culture of SET employment and SET departments

    Phase 2 of Athena’s work – 2002 to 2004 recognising good practice

    The Royal Society Athena Awards in 2002 and 2003 recognised and celebrated the achievements of seven universities in a range of activities which advanced women in SET , changed their organisation processes and their culture (Athena Reports 18 to 25).

    In 2003, twenty-eight universities piloted Athena’s good practice checklist. The results from this pilot have been collated into a “Study of the good practice in place in UK universities in 2003” and some individual case studies (Athena Case Studies 1 to 7).

    The good practice check-list developed for use by universities was adapted for a joint Athena Royal Society of Chemistry initiative. The resulting report Good practice in academic chemistry departments was published in December 2004.