Opening Up Photonics: Positive Action, Inclusive Language and Recruitment

Workshop exploring the role of inclusive language in attracting more diverse applicants and tackling bias within the recruitment process.

The Opening Up Photonics Initiative – a collaboration between Photonics Scotland, University of Glasgow, Institute of Physics and the Knowledge Transfer Network – has partnered with Equate Scotland to deliver a series of training workshops exploring practical suggestions for improving gender diversity within your organisation.

 

Why?

The photonics industry has long struggled to increase the participation and engagement of women. A recent SPIE study indicated that, across Europe, female representation in the sector is as low as 20%.

It is clear, therefore, that Scottish Photonics will need to target greater engagement from this underrepresented group to ensure the future success of the sector. As well as unlocking the well documented commercial and cultural benefits of a more gender diverse workforce, this approach will be vital in securing the necessary number of skilled workers to support future growth.

 

How?

Earlier this year, Photonics Scotland published a vision paper for the Photonics Sector in Scotland, setting out a series of recommendations that will support the goal to triple the size of the sector by 2030. Included within these recommendations was the creation of a Women In Photonics Initiative that would seek to identify barriers to female engagement in the sector. Working with both industry and academia, the initiative will look to provide employers and educators with the necessary tools to encourage more women into photonics careers.

 

Workshop 1 – 29th October 2019

The first of these workshops reviews how inclusive language in job descriptions, advertising and marketing can attract more diverse applicants, as well as how recruitment processes can be improved to tackle bias. The session provides practical steps forward.

 

For more information and registration, click here.