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Purpose

The Chemistry World Café is a structured, inclusive engagement event designed to gather evidence, identify priorities, and co-create actions that support an Athena Swan action plan. Rather than focusing only on barriers experienced by women, the event explores how departmental culture can better support equitable career progression, wellbeing, inclusion, and success for everyone.

Objectives

By the end of the event participants will:

• Share experiences across career stages.
• Identify strengths and challenges within the department.
• Generate practical recommendations for improving culture.
• Inform the department's Athena Swan Action Plan with qualitative evidence.
• Build connections between staff and PGR students.

Format

10 min - Welcome and objectives

15 min - Round 1 discussions

15 min - Round 2

15 min - Round 3

15 min - Round 4

15 min - Gallery walk and prioritisation exercise

5 min - Summarise and close

Participants rotate tables every 20 minutes while one table host remains to summarise previous discussions.

Discussion Tables

Table 1 - Recruitment and Belonging

Question - What makes our department welcoming - and what unintentionally excludes people?

Table 2 - Research Culture

Question - What does an excellent research culture look like?

Table 3 - Career Development

Question - How can we create a culture where everyone has the confidence, support, and opportunities to succeed?

How can we ensure women students feel confident, supported and able to progress?

Table 4 – Looking Ahead

Question: If you were Head of Department for one year, what three changes would you make?