School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences launches Athena Swan Action Plan

The school of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences is one of four LJMU schools accredited with the Athena Swan Bronze Award, alongside the Liverpool Business School (LBS), Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) and the School of Sport Exercise Sciences. 

The launch of the action plan this week will focus on 12 areas within PBS, including staff promotion and professional development, workload recognition and research engagement.  

14 more departments across the university are working towards bronze accreditation, with LJMU as an institution, currently aiming for the Athena Swan Silver Award. 

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.  

The launch was hosted by Professor Satyajit Sarker, Director of the School of PBS and Chair of the PBS Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team, and Co-Chairs, Dr Komang Ralebitso Senior, Senior Lecturer in Microbial Ecology and Dr Garry McDowell, Head of Subject for Biomedical Sciences.  

Professor Satyajit Sarker said: “PBS is a diverse school, and we practice equality. Today is a day of celebration but we are mindful of the full task ahead.

“We have reached the first destination in our journey but there is still a lot of work to be done.”  

Laura Bishop, Pro-Vice Chancellor for LJMU’s Faculty of Science, and one of the speakers at the launch, alongside Pro-vice Chancellor for Student Experience, Phil Vickerman, said:  

“Gaining Athena Swan Bronze accreditation is an amazing achievement for PBS.

“It’s a real process, and it highlights the importance of LJMU’s dedication to an EDI agenda, which is embedded in the new values of the university and highlights the importance of gender equality, role models and allies across the board.” 

You can find out more about the Athena SWAN Charter at LJMU here.