Teaching Hero: Dr Audrey O'Grady

 

In April 2021 Dr. Audrey O’Grady, was recognised as a Teaching Hero in the 2021 student-led Teaching Hero awards. The Awards are organised by the National Forum in collaboration with the Union of Students in Ireland and provide an opportunity for students across the country to recognise and celebrate outstanding teaching in Irish higher education institutions. This year students were asked to describe why their nominees deserved recognition as an innovative or inspiring teacher. Audrey was nominated by her undergraduate students who submitted both a written report and video. There was particular recognition for Audrey’s support of students during online teaching during restrictions.

Athena Swan Bronze Award

The department of Biological Sciences Athena Swan Committee are delighted to announce that we have had our Bronze Athena Swan Award renewed. Originally, the department was one of the first in Ireland to receive this award, recognizing our early leadership and commitment towards achieving equality for all staff and students.

The application was co-chaired by Dr. James Brown and Dr. Audrey O’Grady, and made possible by the hard work and helping hands of many staff and students in the department over several months. This award recognizes the department's commitment to creating a workplace that is inclusive, welcoming, and where everyone is treated equally, and with dignity and respect. This culture is important to us, to inspire and support all our students and staff, and we follow the motto “if you can see it, you can be it”, both as educators and as leaders in our communities.

The Athena SWAN charter is a framework that is used internationally to support and transform gender equality in higher education and research. The charter launched in Ireland in 2015 with a specific remit to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women STEMM employment. The charter has since been expanded to include arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL) and staff working in professional, managerial and support roles (PMSS). Notably, the department of Biological Sciences is the first department in UL to have a PMSS champion- Jackie Kennedy. We look forward to implementing our plan over the next 4 years, further building our department into a place where everyone is truly treated equally, and is a beacon of diversity and inclusiveness.