Women in Physics Group

About the group 

As a special interest, member-driven group, we encourage group members to participate in the IOP’s activities and support career progress with professional development.

We reflect the varied careers of women physicists in:

• industry
• teaching
• research
• academia
• commerce

What the group does

Our current interests include:

• career breaks
• career management workshops
• networking in the UK and Europe
• education at primary, secondary and tertiary level
• women in research and academia - especially those on short-term contracts

We welcome new members and suggestions for future events. Come and join us to contribute to our discussions.

Socialise, network and find out more about our group on Facebook.

Group physics prize

Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal and Prize

The award is for women at the start of their careers who have made a substantial contribution to physics and who support and encourage others in the field.

The prize is £1,000. The winner also receives a bronze medal and a certificate. 

Nominees for the award must:

• be women
• have completed their first undergraduate (bachelor’s or master’s) degree in physics less than five years ago (not including career breaks)
• be making a substantial contribution to physics
• be working to support and encourage others in the field
• be working in a physics based role e.g. researcher, graduate trainee or teacher or engaged in postgraduate study in physics
• have their undergraduate degree listed on myphysicscourse.org. We consider nominees with non-UK degrees on a case by case basis

Learn about previous winners

Annual conference and events

Find group events on the IOP events site.

Previous events

Getting Back into the Workplace

Tuesday 30 April 2019

A one-day meeting for women returning to the workplace after a career break with hands-on support and advice on returning to paid employment.

Employers and experts offered practical guidance on:

• confidence building
• goal setting
• identifying skills and possible career paths
• updating CVs
• using LinkedIn and social media

The day included: 

• mock interviews by employers
• information on schemes to help people return to work
• open panel discussion and networking

Presentations

• Download Imposter Syndrome (PP, 1MB). Caroline Broad of Broad Associates Limited. Visit Twitter, Facebook and Broad Associates Ltd
• Download LinkedIn and Social Media (PDF, 7.8MB). Social Misfits Media
• Interview skills (PDF, 375KB). Sarah Bakewell from the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Twitter @awe_plc

Download the programme to learn more about the event (PDF, 135MB). 

Tweets from the day: #IOPReturntowork2019

The Lives and Times of Pioneering Women in Physics

4 March 2015

Presentations

• The Contribution of Women to Physics: a Historical Overview (PP, 3.65MB). Gillian Butcher
• History’s Lessons: Opportunities and Challenges for Women in Physics Today (1.55MB). Heather Williams

Download the agenda for more information (PDF, 135KB)

Newsletters and physics publications

Newsletter number 20, spring 2016 (PDF, 1,596KB)
Newsletter number 19, September 2015 (PDF, 1.15MB)
Newsletter number 18, February 2014 (PDF, 5.31MB)
Newsletter number 17, 2012/2013 (PDF, 451KB)
Newsletter number 16, 2011/2012 (PDF, 866KB)

Articles

• One woman can change a lot if she is determined, Physics World 21 July 2017 
• Great dames: a tribute to the game changers at ICWiP, Physics World 27 July 2017 
• Bias, stereotyping and harassment: what women battle, Physics World, 28 July 2017 
• A week in which good practice and frustrations could be shared honestly, Physics World, 31 July 2017 
• Cultural Perception and Bias, Digital Science, 2 August 2017 

Useful links

• 4000 years of women in science 
• Association for Science Education 
• Athena Forum 
• Athena Swan – Charter for Women in Science
• IOP Benevolent Fund 
• Carers Fund 
• Cambridge Association for Women in Science and Engineering 
• Contributions of 20th Century Women to Physics 
• Daphne Jackson Trust (for returners)
• Equality Challenge Unit - Gender 
• European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS)
• IOP diversity
• IUPAP working group on Women in Physics resolution
• Médiathèque Scientifique de l'institut Pasteur 
• MentorSET: National Mentoring Scheme for Women in SET 
• Once a physicist 
• PORTIA: Gateway for Women in SET 
• Project JUNO that recognises organisations taking action to address gender inequality. 
• Resource Centre for women in science, engineering and technology
• Royal Institution 
• Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award 
• ScienceGrrl network of mainly women scientists passing on their love of STEM
• STEM Ambassadors 
• STEM Learning 
• Towards gender equality in physics – what is medical physics getting right? Summary of the November 2018 discussion
• Women Physicists on Wikipedia  
• Women in Science Engineering and Technology 
• Women in Science supports women to make career decisions with video interviews
• Women's Engineering Society 
• Working in Physics

Committee and contacts

• Chair: Dr Joanne Cole joanne.cole@brunel.ac.uk
• Secretary: Dr Kathryn Boast kathryn.boast@physics.ox.ac.uk

Advisory panel members 

Professor Dame S Jocelyn Bell Burnell

DBE FRS FRSE. Former President of the Institute of Physics (2008 to 2010), University of Oxford

Professor Philippa Browning

Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester

Professor Dame Athene Donald

DBE FRS. Professor of Experimental Physics, University of Cambridge

Professor Brian R Fulton

Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, University of York and Chair of the IOP Juno Panel

Dr Barbara J Gabrys

University of Oxford, Chair of the IOP Diversity and inclusion Committee

Professor Gillian Gehring

OBE. Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Sheffield, Team Leader ICWIP 2002, EPWS BoA to 2009

Professor Helen Gleeson

OBE. Cavendish Professor of Physics, University of Leeds

Professor Claudine Hermann

Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur (Grand Officier, Vice President EPWS, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, and Femmes Sciences, France

Professor Dame Julia Higgins

DBE FRS FREng. Emeritus Professor,Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London

Professor Jessica James

Commerzbank, Head of Quantitative Solutions

Professor Averil Macdonald

FRSA. Professor of Science Communication, University of Reading

Professor Peter Main

Head of Department of Physics, Institute of Physics

Professor Andrew Randewich

Chief Scientist, AWE.

Professor Elaine Seddon

University of Manchester and Cockcroft Institute Daresbury

Dr Uschi Steigenberger

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory STFC 

Elizabeth Whitelegg

Open University

Professor Julia Yeomans

University of Oxford, Team leader ICWiP 2005, EPS Council