About the Diversity programme
Committee
A Women in Physics Policy Committee was approved by Council in July 2003 and ran successfully for 18 months. This committee was subsequently superseded by the Diversity Committee, which was approved by Council in 2004, and aims to increase participation in physics at all levels: from schools and universities, to other work environments.
The primary purpose of the Diversity Committee is to advise the Institute’s Council on policy issues relating to increasing diversity in the physics community. In particular, the Committee focuses on raising the participation and profile of women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and looks at the issues and concerns surrounding older people in the physics world.
The Committee also formulates items of policy for the consideration of Council, which includes:
- Strategic collaborations with other organisations
- Targets concerning the Institute’s own internal Boards and structures
The Committee consists of men and women of different ages and backgrounds so as to represent the mix of Institute members and has both ex-officio members of staff and Institute members. The first meeting of the Diversity Committee was held on 18th November 2004, and further meetings take place regularly. New members may be co-opted onto the Committee at a later date, to ensure that the committee is fully reflective of the diversity in the community.
The Committee is concerned with all aspects of under-representation in the field of physics, and aims to address diversity issues encompassing women in physics, ethnicity and disability.
Current Committee Members
Dr Saher Ahmed (Ex-officio, Diversity Programme Co-ordinator and Secretary)
Mr John Brindley (Ex-officio, Director, Membership and Business)
Dr Gillian Butcher (Women in Physics Group Chair)
Professor Gillian Gehring (Women in Physics Group Representative)
Dr Katharine Hollinshead (Ex-officio, Diversity Programme Leader)
Dr Robert Kirby-Harris (Ex-officio, Chief Executive)
Professor Peter Main (Ex-officio, Director, Science and Education)
Dr June McCombie (IOP Member)
Dr Sean McWhinnie (Royal Society of Chemistry)
Alice Pennington (SKILL: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities)
Dr David Wolfe (IOP member)
Dr Andrew Wray (IOPP Representative)
Ms Christine Yates (Imperial College, London)
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