WaLN

Welcome to the University's Women at Leeds Network, formerly known as WiSET (Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology).

WaLN is part of the our active support for women working and studying across the University and supports the University’s Athena SWAN activities.

WaLN currently has two key strands of activity:

  • a regular monthly network meeting, "Start the month with ......", which allows the opportunity to network with female colleagues from across disciplines and includes invited speakers to offer advice, support and share their experiences of developing a career as a woman at Leeds;
  • an e-mail network which allows circulation of information on forthcoming Start the month with meetings, as well as any other information which might be of interest or value to members of the network. If you'd like to join this network, please subscribe here.

The network is open to everyone at the University.

 

Women at Leeds Network logo

About us

The Women at Leeds Network exists to support colleagues at the University. 

The network's managed by a committee of volunteers from across campus, and we're always keen to hear from colleagues who'd like to be involved with the committee and take an active role in WaLN's activities.

Contact us

If you'd like to join the virtual network – the email list – please subscribe here.

If you're interested in becoming part of the committee, please contact Gemma Griffiths or Sarah Ward.

Events

We host a themed, monthly network meeting, "Start the month with .....", held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in rotation.

"Start the month with ......." takes many forms, sometimes we deliver a skills session on a key topic such as assertiveness, other sessions have had a guest speaker followed by a Q&A session and open discussion. We hope to expand our events in the coming academic year and we are always open to new ideas and suggestions.

If you have an idea for a topic that "Start the month with ......" should cover, please get in touch with Gemma Griffiths or Sarah Ward.

Ultimately, it's a chance for women from across campus to come together and network in a friendly, supportive environment.

Upcoming Event

Details of the next event will be available soon.

Past Events

Some of the topics covered in the past are:

My Career – Serendipity or Strategy? Dr Cath Noakes, School of Civil Engineering and Dr Jane Cahill, School of Healthcare
Role Models and Visibility: Promoting STEM as a career path for women Dr Fiona Gill, School of Earth and Environment
Developing assertiveness and working with confidence Nicola Neath, Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Service
Travels with my Family: Work-life balance on four continents Barbara Evans, School of Civil Engineering
Imposter Syndrome Anita Blakeston, School of Physics and Astronomy and Sami Bageghni, School of Medicine
How to get promoted Alison Jones, School of Mechanical Engineering, Michelle Nettleton, HR, Alumut Beige and Lorna Dougan, School of Physics and Astronomy
Feminism in the 21st Century Dr Jonathan Dean, School of Politics & International Studies

Useful links

The following links provide useful information or signposting about HR issues and equality and diversity matters.

The list is not exhaustive and the University does not endorse any external organisations by listing the links.

University of Leeds links

University of Leeds HR – http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/

University of Leeds Equality and Inclusion Unit – http://www.equality.leeds.ac.uk/

Organisational Development and Professional Learning (formerly SDDU) – peopledevelopment.leeds.ac.uk

STEM at Leeds – www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/

Leeds University Union – www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/

Trade unions

Unite – www.unitetheunion.org/

Unison – www.unison.org.uk/

UCU – www.ucu.org.uk/

NUS – www.nus.org.uk/

Women in STEM

The WISE Campaign – www.wisecampaign.org.uk/

Women’s Engineering Society – www.wes.org.uk/

Women in Science, Engineering & Technology – www.wiset.org.uk/

STEMettes – www.stemettes.org/

Science Grrl – http://sciencegrrl.co.uk/

Daphne Jackson Trust (for women returning to STEM) – www.daphnejackson.org/

IOP Women in Physics Group – www.iop.org/activity/groups/subject/wip/index.html

Trowel Blazers – http://trowelblazers.com/

Your Life – www.yourlife.org.uk/

Computer Science Online - http://www.computerscienceonline.org/cs-programs-for-women/

Organisations promoting STEM generally

There are many organisations promoting science, engineering, technology and maths to society at large, with many having a specific focus on young people, such as:

STEMNET – www.stemnet.org.uk/

Stimulating Physics Network – www.stimulatingphysics.org/

West Yorkshire STEM – www.wystem.co.uk/