Celebrating International Womens Day at the Optoelectronics Research Centre
International Women’s Day is a global day marked annually on March 8th to celebrate the achievements of women.
This year, the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton joined the worldwide commemoration by hosting an event that brought together staff and students to acknowledge the significant contributions made by women researchers within the ORC. This celebration was particularly apt following the ORC’s recent attainment of the Athena Swan Bronze Award.
The event, attended by over 40 individuals from diverse backgrounds in terms of gender, seniority, and nationality, served as a testament to the ORC's commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity.
Professor Anna Peacock, who was appointed as Deputy Director last year, shared her thoughts on the celebration: “It was wonderful to celebrate IWD with so many friends and colleagues this year. I hope that this becomes an annual event for our calendars to help reflect on the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace.”
Dr. Natasha Vukovic, a Senior Research Fellow at the ORC, also discussed her experience of the event: "I attended the IWD event and was delighted to see the impressive turnout of colleagues showing their support. The atmosphere was vibrant, reflecting a beautiful celebration of the resilience and achievements of women not only within our organisation but also beyond.”
Beyond the confines of International Women’s Day, the ORC continues to champion the advancement of women in science. The ORC is also home to the Women in Optics group. Since its inception last year, the group has held meetings to address various topics, including the university promotion process for academic staff, and brought in guest speakers, such as Dr. Margaret Dominguez from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre.