#Breakthebias International Women’s Day

The University of Derby’s female Professors and Associate Professors work across all disciplines including arts, business, engineering, education, humanities, psychology, criminology and more. These leading academics are breaking stereotypes, highlighting the way forward for future generations. Whether that's being a role model to young children starting out in education or to those who are already working in a career, our researchers are showing them that anything is possible.

So if you hear throwaway comments such as "girls can’t do science", we invite you to talk about Professor Angela Dean who is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, has a BSc in Metallurgy, a Post Graduate Certificate of Education and a Diploma in Pollution Control/PgC Environmental Decisions. Or if someone suggests "women can't achieve as much as men", point out that Professor Kate Moss has led on three European Commission funded projects, and has undertaken research for organisations including the Home Office, the National Police Training Units and the Prime Ministers Delivery Unit to name just a few.

And if you come across the stereotype that suggests "you will never progress as far in your career because you are a woman", highlight that Professor Carley Foster is a Professor, Head of the Centre for Business Improvement, has presented at numerous conferences, has taught in different countries, gained industry experience and doesn’t plan on stopping there!

We are committed to addressing gender equality in higher education and strive to enable all academics and researchers to succeed regardless of their gender, race and background. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #BreakTheBias, so we asked Professor Clare Brindley, Associate Provost what breaking the bias meant to her:

According to HESA data in 20/21 only 29% of professors are women. As this number increases it is to be celebrated. However, what is even more important to me is that when there is a greater number, it ' breaks the bias' that women professors are an homogeneous group - we are not! We come from different disciplines, adopt various epistemological positions, have different life experiences and educational backgrounds. We have broken the mould in many differing ways.

To find out more about our female researchers, watch some of their Professorial Inaugural Lectures. 

Get involved! 

As part of Women's History Month, we're going to be shining the spotlight on a range of academics and researchers across the University through a series of blogs. 

So, if you're an academic or researcher within the University who identifies as female or your research focuses on women and you'd like to take part in this series, then please complete our form.