UCL-Institute of Child Health
Athena SWAN
15th Self-Assessment Team Meeting
Tuesday 4th November 2014, 2:30pm – 4:00pm, June Lloyd Room, ICH
Present:
Professor Shamima Rahman (Chair)
Professor Ros Smyth (Director)
Dr Mona Bajaj-Elliot
Dr Fani Deligianni (Postdoctoral
Representative)
Dr Steven Howe
Ms Wendy Knowles
Professor Gudrun Moore
Professor Jenny Morgan
Professor Pete Scambler
Professor Jane Sowden
Mr Michael Williams
Apologies: Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz, Professor Andy Copp, Ms Lydia Leon (PhD
Representative), Ms Natalie Mark, Dr Sara Mole (LMCB Representative), Dr Andy Stoker
Minutes
1.
LSF/BRC Open Day
Shamima informed the committee that there will be an Athena SWAN stand at the
upcoming LSF/BRC Open Day on Saturday November 15th at ICH and invited SAT
members to attend.
2.
IMT Update
Shamima briefly discussed the update she provided at IMT on Tuesday 7th October and
the feedback that was received. She relayed that members of that committee
responded positively to the news that the ICH Research Excellence Award had been
launched. Additionally, a suggestion was made at IMT that the ‘Women at ICH’
webpage should be updated to include all role models at ICH irrespective of gender.
Michael to update the ‘Women at ICH’ webpage to reflect this suggestion.
3.
ICH Research Excellence Award
Michael informed the committee that 22 total submissions were received for the
inaugural ICH Research Excellence Award. Of that total the breakdown is as follows: 17
female applicants, 3 male applicants (1 of whom applied twice), and 1 joint female/male
application. Shamima highlighted the possibility more applications were not received as
not enough papers had been published by the potential applicant pool in 2013 – 2014.
Jane explained how the award will be scored and the final judging panel was
determined to be: Jane, Jenny, Shamima, Gudrun/Maria, Nikhil and Pete. It was agreed
that these awards will be presented by Ros at the ICH Open Day on Wednesday, 19th
November, immediately following the awards for the poster competition. Ros has
requested that a brief preamble is written to explain the purpose and significance of the
award.
Shamima suggested there should be a sub-committee meeting prior to the Open Day.
Michael to distribute applications to the judging panel for scoring.
4.
Postdoctoral Steering Group Update
Fani provided an update on the upcoming ICH Post Doc Society Launch Event,
scheduled for Monday 10th November in the Leolin Price Lecture Theatre and Winter
Garden. She informed the group that 55 participants have signed up to attend and that
this will be an opportunity to inform ICH Post Docs that a group for them exists. She
also intends to address Athena SWAN and highlight their next event on the 13th of
March 2015.
5.
Athena SWAN Budget
Michael provided a brief overview of the funding currently allocated to ICH Athena
SWAN initiatives and it was agreed that the majority of this funding should be retained
for the Maternity Research Funds.
On behalf of the Postdoctoral Steering Group, Fani requested £250 to fund the
upcoming ICH Post Doc Society Launch Event on the 10th of November and this was
approved as a one-off expenditure.
6.
Lectureships Update
Ros briefed the group that the application to the Child Health Research CIO for funding
for two new lectureships was approved. This funding has been allocated to the
Genetics and Genomic Medicine and Population, Policy and Practice Programmes, both
of which will develop business cases for these posts.
7.
Website
Michael briefed the group that some of the formatting and pages on the website are
currently being updated, including the aforementioned ‘Women at ICH’ page.
8.
Upcoming Action Plan Items

1.2B – Database to collate staff training activities
Wendy to speak with HR about capturing this information from MyView.

1.2C – Gender balance of academic recruitment committees
Wendy to look into whether this information can be recorded going forward.

2.4A – Development of an academic mentoring scheme
Gudrun to follow-up on this.

3.1B – Career aspirations monitoring and exit forms
Wendy to speak with HR about gathering this data.

3.3B – Postdoctoral career development advisors
It was proposed to have this setup independently of existing programmes.

3.4B – Increase postdoc grant applications
Michael to follow-up with R&I to acquire baseline data.
Fani to look into what the postdocs are currently doing in terms of grant
writing and report back to this committee.

3.4C – Identification of high performing postdocs
Gudrun informed the SAT that this is being done by the Postdoctoral Steering
Group.
Shamima to circulate an appraisal form drafted by Natalie to the SAT.
9.
All Other Business

4.2A – ‘Maternity Research Funds’
There was a discussion on this topic and it was agreed that a paper will be
submitted to this committee with an application form. It was suggested that
this is a light touch process but applicants should explain what the funding will
be used for. Jane agreed to assist with this initiative.
Michael to verify the number of individuals who would have been eligible to
apply for this award in the past year.

Annual Athena SWAN staff survey and Action Plan
The survey was discussed briefly and it was decided another should be
conducted soon; Mona has agreed to look into this. In order to assess
progress on the Action Plan to date Shamima offered to create a new
document in the shared drive collating accomplishments.
Mona to draft new survey for review at January 6th SAT meeting.
Shamima to create a new document in the ICH Athena SWAN SAT folder to
keep track of Action Plan results and accomplishments.

Membership and responsibilities
Shamima recommended that Kathy Kennedy from PPP and Nikhil Thapar
from DBC are invited to join the SAT. This was agreed. She also reiterated
the necessity for everyone on the committee to take responsibility for part of
the action plan.
Shamima to extend invitations to Kathy and Nikhil.
10. Next Meeting:
Tuesday 6th January 2014
2.30pm – 4.00pm
June Lloyd Room, ICH