Equality and diversity

The Department of Chemistry, together with the University of Oxford, is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students are respected.

We seek to embed equality and diversity in all our Departmental activities, as an underpinning consideration in all that we do. Our Equality and Diversity Committee champions the values of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), assesses our progress in achieving this, and sponsors and oversees related initiatives and projects. It includes staff and student representatives from across the Department who are committed to promoting change in support of EDI. The Committee is chaired by our Associate Head of Department for People, currently Professor Kylie Vincent. The Associate Head is a role created in 2021 to reflect the Department’s commitment to the EDI agenda and to strengthen leadership in this key area. Our EDI work is also supported by our EDI Fellow Neave Taylor (DPhil student, Perkin group).

 

Photo of Kylie Vincent

I believe that departments thrive when people make different contributions without pressure to conform -  and that we need diversity of background, understanding and experience to give the kind of breakthroughs that come of seeing things from a different perspective.

Kylie Vincent, Associate Head of Department for People

 

 

The championing of equality and diversity in the Department benefits from the extensive framework and strategy already in place at the University of Oxford, underpinned by the University’s Equality Policy and supported by the Equality and Diversity Unit. Initiatives designed to encourage equality and diversity at Oxford include a number of networks to support specific groups with shared characteristics, for example, gender, religion and belief, disability, race and LGBT+. The University holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award at institutional level, and the Department is proud to hold a Department Silver Athena SWAN Award in recognition of its commitment to gender equality.

In line with the University’s Race Equality Charter, the Department is committed to providing an inclusive culture and working environment for all our staff and students. We seek to promote and celebrate a full range of diversity in scholarship, learning and teaching; to increase the proportion of BME staff and students; to address gaps in progression and attainment; to improve the overall experience of BME students and staff; and to ensure diverse representation on decision-making.

Visit the Equality and Diversity Unit for more information on the University’s work to promote race equality including its Race Equality Task Force formed in November 2020 and the BME staff network. 

The Department of Chemistry and the University is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which supports our disabled staff and students to flourish.

Students
The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) provides information and advice to disabled students.  

The Department’s disability coordinator for students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) is Ai Fletcher.

Each College also has a Disability Coordinator. 

Staff
The Equality and Diversity Unit provides information and guidance for disabled staff and managers. 
The Head of HR, Wendy Gillard, is the Departmental contact for support and resources for disabled staff within the Department of Chemistry.

Access
The Department operates across several buildings and access guides provide information on the accessibility of each premises.

Our newest building, the Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, is fully accessible, with height-adjustable benches and fume hoods for wheelchair users.  All our lecture theatres are equipped with hearing loops and lecture capture technology.  

Further information for disabled staff, students and visitors.
 

As an inclusive community, the Department of Chemistry, strives to provide a supportive place of work and study for all our staff and students to feel they belong and to flourish.

 

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Seen in STEMM is a University of Oxford network for staff and students that aims to promote visibility of LGBT+ people in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medical Sciences (STEMM).

 

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OULGBTQ+SOCIETY is a student run society of over 2500 members that hosts social and welfare events and provides support for LGBTQ+ students at Oxford.   

 

Further information on the University’s support for LGBT+: LGBT+ support.