School of Mathematics and Statistics is awarded Athena Swan Bronze Award for commitment to gender equality
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The School of Mathematics and Statistics has become the first School to be awarded an Athena Swan Bronze Award at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).
The Athena Swan Ireland charter supports higher education institutions, academic departments and professional units to build capacity and conduct impactful and sustainable gender equality work. Bronze award holders are recognised for completing a detailed self-assessment, developing a targeted action plan to advance gender equality, and demonstrating the capacity to implement actions and bring about change.
TU Dublin's Dean of Computing, Digital and Data, Professor Pramod Pathak, said:
"I congratulate all in the School for achieving an Athena Swan Bronze award, including Head of School, Dr Chris Hills, the School's Self-Assessment Team Chair, Dr Dana Mackey, and the rest of the team conducted a detailed audit, developed a strong application, and a targeted action plan, during a time of significant transition for the School. The School has demonstrated a clear commitment to addressing inequalities and embedding an inclusive culture. I commend their leadership on gender equality work, both within our Faculty and in the University, having achieved TU Dublin's first Bronze award for an academic unit."
Professor Yvonne Galligan, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, TU Dublin, said:
"I congratulate Dr Chris Hills and Dr Dana Mackey and all involved in obtaining the Athena Swan Bronze award for the School of Mathematics and Statistics (formerly School of Mathematical Sciences). This is a first for TU Dublin and an inspiring example for other Schools in the University. It is all the more impressive achievement given the challenges to overcome - the gender analysis was conducted during the pandemic, and the application was developed during a transition period for the School. The Athena Swan review panel fully acknowledged these difficult circumstances in conferring the award, which the School now holds until April 2026."
Dr Dana Mackey, the Chair of the School's Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT), said
"We are delighted to have been awarded an Athena Swan Bronze Award. We very much appreciate the help from the Directorate of Equality Diversity and Inclusion and the detailed feedback the review panel provided on our application and action plan. However, we realise this is only the beginning and look forward to doing impactful and sustainable gender equality work both within our School and in our discipline more broadly."
Dr Chris Hills, Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics, said:
"The announcement of this award is wonderful news for the School. I am immensely proud of this achievement and all the work that has led to the Athena Swan Bronze Award. It is a tangible acknowledgement of the excellent work of the Self-Assessment Team, led by Dr Dana Mackey, with the engagement of our staff, and a testament to the insightful and honest appraisal of gender equality in the School that it produced. Equality is at the core of the School's values, and this is an exciting start to the new academic year within a new Faculty. We look forward to advancing the great work started by the Self-Assessment Team and to continuing our development and evolution in advancing gender equality".