Left to right: Prof. Rachel Cowen, Prof. Jenn Hallam, Dr. Claire Malone and Prof. Natalie Gardiner

In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, the Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health had the privilege of hosting the dynamic and inspiring inclusion advocate, Dr. Claire Malone. Her presence was warmly welcomed by Professor Jenn Hallam, Professor Natalie Gardiner, and Professor Rachel Cowen—who joined forces to shine a spotlight on the power of inclusion and diversity in shaping the future. 

Dr. Malone, a science communicator and advocate for inclusivity in academia, explored the systemic challenges that disabled individuals and other marginalised groups, particularly women are faced with. With a PhD from Cambridge, Claire’s personal experiences shed light on how these barriers not only exclude valuable contributions but also impact the overall university experience. 

In Claire’s talk, she highlighted the double bind faced by women in academia, balancing the pressures of excelling in research and teaching with societal expectations around childcare and housework.   

Dr. Claire Malone spotlighted the stark reality of the “leaky pipeline” in academia, where women represent 44% of undergraduates, yet only 30% make it to professor-level positions. She challenged the prevailing culture, which disproportionately favours those without caregiving responsibilities, exacerbated by the instability of short-term contracts and the challenge of balancing family life with career advancement. 

In a powerful call for change, Dr. Malone outlined key strategies to reshape academic culture. She underscored the urgent need to adjust career timelines to accommodate individuals with caregiving duties or disabilities, who often face unique barriers to progression. To combat these inequities, several UK universities have implemented “stop-the-clock” policies, offering researchers the ability to pause their promotion timelines during periods of leave—an important step toward making academia more inclusive and equitable for all. 

Claire also discussed enhancing flexibility in working hours and expectations, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the benefits of remote work, flexible hours, and extended deadlines. These adjustments led to increased efficiency and improved accessibility. 

Claire advocated for rethinking the curriculum and assessments as traditional evaluation metrics, often fail to accurately represent ability. Introducing alternative assessment methods, like podcasts or presentations, would offer more inclusive ways to measure academic performance. 

The event was a powerful reminder of why initiatives like the Athena SWAN Charter are so crucial. The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has recently earned the Silver Athena SWAN Status, highlighting its commitment to creating structures a culture that promote gender equality and inclusivity. 

As Dr. Malone concluded her talk, she left the audience with invaluable insights into the complex intersection of gender, disability, and academic culture. Her ongoing work challenges and redefines what it truly means to create an inclusive environment—not just in science, but across all disciplines. 

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