Diversity

Welcome to the Diversity in Physics web resource at the Institute of Physics. Our aim is to provide information and support for physicists at all stages of their careers. So whether you are a high school student considering physics A-level or a professional wanting to take a career break to have children, we hope that you find the information and links contained within these pages helpful!

The Women in Physics Programme was launched on 21st May 2003 in the presence of Lord Sainsbury, at the opening of the new extended premises of the Institute at 76 Portland Place, London. Each room in the new building is named after a female physicist, in recognition of their sometimes forgotten contributions to the field.

Women physicists face many obstacles to their progress in physics from an early age: even at school, physics is often perceived as a male and masculine subject. The women who do choose to study physics and pursue a scientific career may encounter a number of difficulties, and face challenges such as combining the demands of work with family, and can also face subtle discrimination in a male dominated environment. In addition to this, it can be difficult to return to work in a scientific area after a career break, as people can easily lose touch with recent developments in their field. The Institute is working on a number of projects with different organisations to change attitudes, and to create a better working environment for all physicists, both female and male.

These pages will be regularly updated and continuously extended, so please do come back and visit us again! Further information about the Diversity Programme and the projects the Institute is developing may be obtained from the Diversity Programme Coordinator, Dr Saher Ahmed, or the Diversity Programme Leader, Dr Katharine Hollinshead.

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