Inclusive, Diverse, Fair — Juno
Lancaster University Physics Department is a friendly, medium sized department that has been rated by the RAE as the top research department in the UK.
With a warm and diverse atmosphere, on-campus daycare for under-fives and a high proportion of female physics professors compared to the national average (15% c/w 4%), we welcome everyone and are strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community as a source of excellence, cultural enrichment, and social strength.
Our family-friendly policy includes flexible working hours, a nursery school for the convenience of staff, students, and members of the public, (although staff and students get discount rates) and maternity and paternity leave policies.
Dr Iain Bertram, Reader, with his son walking near Littledale
"Lancaster is a delightful place to work and live with a family. With easy access to the surrounding countryside and safe streets we enjoy the great outdoors all through the year."
Juno at Lancaster
Lancaster University takes part in the IOP's Juno project, which addresses the problem of the very low proportion of women in physics, especially in higher academic posts. (Just 1 in 5 undergraduates and lecturers and 1 in 25 physics professors in the UK are women).
We have already achieved Juno Practitioner status, with a view to becoming "Juno Champions" in the future. Steps taken so far to achieve this involve:
- Identifying discrepancies in the proportion of women applying for academic posts compared with the proportion that receive and accept offers
- Monitoring staff and student views with regular surveys and questionnaires for both men and women
- Setting up a Juno committee and a Women in Physics group, which meet on a regular basis
- Setting up the Physics Staff Advisory Committee with elected representatives from different staff groups within the Department
Dr Laura Kormos, Lecturer
"As the Juno Committee chairperson at Lancaster I am proud of many of the changes that the committee has made in our department.
"We have initiated practices which have made an already-good department better, by introducing or strengthening procedures which are transparent and by encouraging dialogue between diverse groups within the department.
"The Juno committee fosters openness, collegiality and support, and seeks to ensure that all members of the department feel valued and well-represented in decision-making.
"This enhances the working life of both men and women, students and staff. At Lancaster, this endeavour is greatly assisted by the support and participation of virtually all of the staff members, who are committed to encouraging women to study and work in physics at Lancaster."
Gemma Anderson, Lancaster MPhys graduate - now studying for a Ph.D
"Lancaster is a great place to study. The staff in the physics department are very friendly, helpful and offer lots of encouragement and support. I spent my third year at the University of California San Diego - it was a fantastic experience!"
Dr Manus Hayne, Senior Lecturer.
Manus is one of the many members of the Department who cycle or walk into work using the University's cycle path, while many others make use of the frequent, subsidised bus service.
"The department fully supports the Juno initiative and sees it as a priority for us to attain Juno Champion status.
"We see our Women in Physics group as a welcome development in the department and a key component in our attempt to attain Champion status."
Professor Peter Ratoff, Head of Department
"When I first visited Lancaster I was immediately taken with the atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.
"This was important to me because it's important for students to feel that they can approach their tutors and lecturers.
"Now that I'm a student, one of the best things about Physics at Lancaster is the people on my course. I really enjoy spending time with them, even when it means getting up for a 9am lecture!"
Natasha Vracas, Undergraduate
