Culture, history and society
Project Juno
Project Juno is the IOP’s flagship gender equality award for university physics departments and schools of physics, and other related organisations.
Please note: Project Juno closed in June 2023 and the IOP will be launching a new inclusion model for the physics community in 2024. Find out more about our new inclusion model.
Project Juno is an award scheme that recognises and rewards university physics departments, schools of physics, and related institutes and organisations that can demonstrate they have taken action to address gender equality at all levels and to foster a more inclusive working environment. Much more than just a box ticking exercise, the three-step award scheme requires a significant amount of effort, evidence and commitment and the demonstration of long-term improvements in order for applicants to be recognised. It is also the first award of its kind specifically created for the physics community and by the physics community. Feedback from applicants has shown it can have a profound and lasting impact on gender equality in the awarded department or establishment.
How does my organisation get awarded?
Participation in Project Juno will enable your organisation to work towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential. Juno is fully supported and funded by the IOP and does not involve a charge to physics departments.
Juno is essentially a “peer review” process – all applications to Juno awards are assessed by the Juno panel, all of whom are physicists and all of whom work in Practitioner or Champion departments (see below for the different Juno Award Levels). All our panel members understand the issues that physics departments face and feedback is undertaken by physicists for physicists.
Juno involves a series of site visits to offer constructive feedback and advice to physics departments to enable them to progress against the principles.
Project Juno is aimed specifically at university physics departments and schools of physics, and other related organisations. If you are an individual interested in promoting gender equality, and other forms of diversity and inclusion in the world of Physics, you might be interested in reading about our Limit Less campaign.
Juno award levels
There are currently three levels of Juno award:
- Supporter
- Practitioner
- Champion
Please note that Juno ‘Excellence’ level is being reviewed and applications are not currently being accepted for this level.
There are six principles that those joining agree to progress towards meeting:
- Principle 1: Organisational Framework
- Principle 2: Appointment and Selection
- Principle 3: Career Progression and Promotion
- Principle 4: Working Culture and Workload Allocation
- Principle 5: Flexible Working
- Principle 6: Professional Conduct, Harassment and Bullying
How Juno was created
IOP undertook a study of university physics departments around the UK over a two- year period (from 2003-2005). We wanted to find out what issues students and staff might be facing, and to understand how we could help. The issue cited most often by all the institutions surveyed was the lack of recruitment, retention and progression of women, an issue also prevalent in the broader world of physics. As a result of this research, Project Juno was created.
Application deadlines
Project Juno closed in June 2023 and there will be no further opportunities to apply to the scheme. The IOP will be launching a new inclusion model for the physics community in 2024.
Find out more about our new inclusion model.
More information
Email [email protected] to find out more and to discuss becoming a Juno Supporter, Practitioner or Champion.
How to become a Juno Supporter, Practitioner or Champion
Here you'll find all the information and documentation you need to support you in applying to become a Juno Supporter, Practitioner or Champion.
Six principles
Six principles form the criteria against which applications for Juno status are assessed.
Juno assessment panel
The Practitioner and Champion awards are assessed by the Juno assessment panel which meets twice a year.
The panel comprises a chair and at least five other members.
Find out who the current members of the panel are.
Project Juno independent evaluation
In 2013 we commissioned an independent evaluation of Project Juno to understand the impact it's had on physics departments in its first five years of operation.
Project Juno and Athena SWAN
Project Juno and Athena SWAN are reciprocal awards, meaning once you have achieved one, you can convert it to the other using your existing paperwork provided that you are already a Juno Supporter and your institution has achieved at least Athena SWAN Bronze.
Both schemes have additional requirements and you need to read the Juno code of practice (PDF, 320KB) carefully to ensure you submit the right paperwork.