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Culture and Inclusion

We're committed to ensuring we're a welcoming, inclusive and supportive School. We're dedicated to promoting this culture for all staff, students and visitors.

The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences is committed to promoting an inclusive culture in which students and staff from all backgrounds have a strong sense of belonging and can work creatively and innovatively to achieve their own and the School’s ambitions.

At the heart of developing an inclusive School culture is a commitment to attracting, supporting, developing and retaining talented staff and students from the full breadth of society. We are a global, outward looking School with a clear desire to increase diversity across all research and taught programme areas.

This website contains a summary of our Values and Standards and some recommended reading, as well as links to key related organisations and groups within the wider Newcastle University community, and a summary of the School Culture and Inclusion Committee’s members.

Use the Comment in a Click form to tell us of unacceptable behaviours. These include making someone feel uncomfortable, excluded or threatened based on a protected characteristic. If you would like a response, please include your email address.

Upcoming Dates

Dry January

The Dry January challenge is a campaign developed and delivered by UK charity Alcohol Change UK where people sign up to abstain from alcohol for the month of January.

LGBT+ History Month

In February 2025 Schools OUT is celebrating its 50th year and 20 years of UK LGBT+ History Month.

Women's History Month

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March since 1987.

Athena Swan

In 2024 the School was sucessful in achieving an Athena SWAN Silver award.

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.

Whilst we are proud of our Athena Swan Silver status, as well as recent strides in diversifying our academic staff, we understand that there is far more work to be done to build on our recent advancements. 

Culture and Inclusion Committee

The Culture and Inclusion Committee in SNES meets regularly to discuss and take action towards a better, more inclusive School. 

Contact the Committee

Our members include:

Andrew Beard (Senior Lecturer)

Victoria Coulson (Operations Manager)

John Edgar (Research Associate)

Eleanor Farrington (Equality, Diversity, and Incusion Advisor)

Shannon Flynn (Lecturer)

Elizabeth Gibson (Professor)

Thomas Howard (Reader)

Karina Lee (Education Manager)

Lousie Mair (NUAcT Fellow)

Cristina Navarro Reguero (Lecturer)

Amy Roberts (Chemical Lab Team Leader)

Dimitra Valsami (Postgraduate Research Student) 

Katy Sawyer - Secretary (Operations Coordinator (Events and Communications))

Isabel Smallegange - Chair (Senior Lecturer)

Values and Standards

Values

The principles that guide our actions in the workplace.

Respect for One Another – with consideration for the protected characteristics and also acknowledging additional factors (for example members of staff with English as a second language, early career researchers etc.).

Courage – to speak out and challenge inappropriate behaviours.

Empowerment – where all colleagues feel confident and valued to speak up and offer an opinion.

Integrity – ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to the Culture and Inclusion principles.

 

Standards

The principles that set context for our values

Lawful – The School commits to operating within the bounds of the Equality Act 2010.

Appropriate Behaviour – exemplary conduct by staff and students both in and out of work.

Total Professionalism – a commitment to working towards an inclusive environment and a selfless commitment to colleagues and students.

Internal Resources
External Resources

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