Department of Computer Science, University College London Wins 2020 Minerva Informatics Equality Award
The winner of the fifth edition of the Minerva Informatics Equality Award is the Department of Computer Science, University College London, United Kingdom, in recognition of outstanding support for the transition of female PhD and Postdoctoral Researchers into Faculty positions.
The Minerva Award, organised by Informatics Europe and sponsored by Google, was presented at a special ceremony held online via Zoom, during the 16th European Computer Science Summit (ECSS 2020). Dr Ivana Drobnjak, Associate Professor at UCL and Dr Ifat Yasin, Senior Lecturer at UCL, received the prize on behalf of their Department and presented the scope and impact of their actions.
“We are grateful to Informatics Europe for awarding us the 2020 Minerva Informatics Equality Award. We have worked very hard over the past decade to improve gender balance and inclusion in our Department”, says Dr Ivana Drobnjak. “When we started in 2010, there were over 20% female students and researchers but only 11% female faculty. Ten years later, in 2020, we have 21% female faculty, 8% higher than the Russell Group average. We worked hard to achieve this, introducing a special Fellowship to Lectureship scheme, Staff Development Programmes, Fellowship Workshop series, Family Support funds, and Informal Social Events with diverse role models. Most importantly, we worked together as a Department with a motivated and dedicated committee, supportive professional services, committed and passionate Heads of Department, and inspiring high-profile female Professors – who came to even the smallest of social events. This personal investment meant a lot to our female PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, and together with all our activities, made a big impact. The Minerva Equality Award is extremely important in recognising work that is vital for the community. Coming together to break down the barriers that divide us, recognising when and where change is needed, and finding the best ways of making things happen requires motivation, time and focus. It is for all of these reasons that it is such an honour and encouragement to receive the Award.”
Professor Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic (Chalmers University of Technology and Mälardalen University), Chair of the 2020 Minerva Award Committee explains: “This year we had strong candidates for the 2020 Minerva Informatics Equality Award, and we congratulate the winner. The UCL submission presents a hands-on approach to building an academic female support network. A very strong proposal supported by empirical evaluation of the measures proposed. The workshop component has been particularly appreciated, as it targets the development of skills (grant proposal writing) that can be repeatedly applied during the researchers' careers contributing to its sustainability. Moreover, these skills are transferrable, i.e., can transcend the limitations of current employment. Importantly, they have introduced the Proleptic Fellowships scheme which has been successful in encouraging women to remain within academia in permanent career. This is very much within the scope of this year's award. The UCL submission presents strong evidence, both qualitative and quantitative of the impact of their initiatives. With this year's focus on the transition from PhD/Postdoc to Faculty positions, the UCL proposal includes a valuable plan, in particular with the Proleptic Fellowships scheme. The program presented supports women at all stages and in particular in the advanced career stage to obtain professorships. Although all supportive actions are valuable, those at the top of the career ladder are the toughest since the air is getting thin there. The measures do not only support women to obtain the tenure track positions but also to sustain in challenging situations addressing measures like extra funding to hire PhD students after maternity leave, etc. Thus, the measures described do not only fight the "glass ceiling" but also the "glass cliffs". Supportive measures against the glass cliff are very often neglected.”
The Minerva Award is sponsored by Google and carries a prize of 5,000 Euros. The grant is to be used for further work on promoting gender equality.
“Google is proud to support the Minerva Informatics Equality Award and congratulates the winners on their achievement”, declares Dr Beate List, Google Research Programs Manager. “We firmly believe that it is important to foster the transition of female PhD and Postdoctoral Researchers into faculty positions, and the Department of Computer Science at University College London has done an outstanding job in increasing the number of female academic faculty by supporting their female PhD students and researchers to thrive in their career development”.
About the Minerva Informatics Equality Award
The Minerva Informatics Equality Award, organised by Informatics Europe and sponsored by Google, recognizes best practices in Departments or Faculties of European Universities and Research Labs that encourage and support the careers of women in Informatics research and education. On a three-year cycle, the award focuses each year on a different stage of the career pipeline: developing the careers of female faculty, supporting the transition for PhD and postdoctoral researchers into faculty positions, and encouraging female students to enrol in Computer Science/Informatics programmes and retaining them. The winners are selected by a prominent team of international experts in an evaluation process that run each year from May to August.
For more information, visit Minerva Informatics Equality Award and Women in Informatics Research and Education.
About Informatics Europe
Informatics Europe represents the academic and research community in Informatics (or Computer Science) in Europe. Bringing together university departments and research laboratories, it creates a strong voice to safeguard and shape quality research and education in Informatics. With over 140 member institutions across 33 countries, Informatics Europe promotes common positions and acts on common priorities.
Visit www.informatics-europe.org to learn more.