On 8 March AWE marked International Women’s Day – a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and raising awareness about gender equality.
This year’s theme of ‘Break the Bias’ featured in a series of events. The day’s virtual events started with a panel discussion – featuring guest panellists from the MoD; the support network a:gender and Speak Out Revolution – with AWE staff debating this year’s theme and looking at ways to forge a gender equal world. The event kicked off with a number of presentations, followed by the opportunity to pose questions, discuss different angles and consider ways of accelerating women’s equality.
Staff also showed their solidarity on social media by making a series of pledges and showing their commitment to calling out bias and supporting others in the workplace. In addition, AWE’s Gender Balance Working Group organised a virtual speed mentoring event, offering employees a chance to network with senior female mentors.
To mark the day AWE’s Chief Executive, Alison Atkinson, also discussed building opportunities in STEM with local MP, Laura Farris.
International Women’s Day also saw the launch of AWE’s latest e-book – ‘The Women that Make AWE’ – which celebrates some of the women who have joined AWE on its journey through the decades. The e-book can be viewed here and showcases a range of women – from AWE historians who worked at the peak of the atomic age, to those who are just starting out on their careers.