We look back to two successful online conference days on equality in science with Prof. Dr. Tom Welton, which were full of lively and engaging discussions on issues of equal opportunity.
The first of four sessions was the only plenary session which was attended by ca. 80 persons from various Swiss universities and scientific institutions. The goals of this session were to discuss academic, structural and institutional challenges universities face today to promote equal opportunity.
The ensuing discourse underlined the importance and benefits of diversity in our institutions. In this context some of our existing structures and personal biases were challenged. For more please see the full recording.
Prof. Tom Welton, OBE FRSC FCGI, Imperial College London, UK
Tom Welton is currently President of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Professor of Sustainable Chemistry at Imperial College London. He is widely acknowledged to be a champion of diversity in science and was head of department when the Chemistry department at Imperial College won its 1st Athena SWAN Gold award. Together with Alison Roger of the University of Warwick, he founded the Irene Juliot-Curie conference series. He is a L’Oréal-UNESCO Male Champion for Women in Science, a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion advisory boards of both UKRI and Elsevier. In recognition of these activities, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2017.
