Professor Sarah Sharples, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “We're really excited to be using International Women’s Day 2020 as a way of inspiring and raising aspirations for the next generation of women thinkers and leaders. This year’s theme is around the idea that an equal world is an enabled world and the university is committed to challenging stereotypes, fighting bias, broadening perceptions, improving situations and celebrating the achievements of women."

IWD presents a fantastic opportunity for us to recognise the brilliant contribution that the women in our own community make across all our campuses. Our amazing women colleagues make a real difference to many lives, through their teaching, research, leadership and participation.

Professor Mark Biggs, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and chair of the Nottingham Trent University Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team, said: “International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the successes and immense contribution that women make to the world, and to champion the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are pleased to be hosting a week of events to shine a light on the challenges women face and how we can all contribute to eliminating these. At Nottingham Trent University we believe it is vital that we are all contributing to #EachforEqual.” 

Among the activities on offer will include: 

• Computer programming using Ozobots, identifying what makes your fingerprint unique and learning how to solve a murder mystery using forensic science techniques 
• The science behind great women sporting achievements – how your body works when you exercise and why physical activity is great for your health and wellbeing. 
• A look at some of the ways in which women – half the solicitors’ profession – work in and with the law, more than one hundred years on from the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 which allowed women to qualify as lawyers in England and Wales for the first time. 
• Discover the story of the world’s first sci-fi novel, written by Margaret Cavendish in 1666, as a way of sharing her ideas at a time when women thinkers and researchers were excluded from universities and public debate. Explore a world of talking polar bears, submarines and worms with engineering tech. 

A wider programme of events linked to International Women’s Day 2020 is running at the University o Nottingham throughout the month of March, including a round table discussion and networking event on Monday 9 March introduced by Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West during which women staff, students and alumni who have taken unusual paths, are in unusual roles or who have fantastic stories to share will reveal what it means to them to be modern women. 

Other activities will include a women’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu self-defence class at the David Ross Sports Village on campus, yoga and meditation classes, a supper club, film screening and events focused on successful women leaders in business. 

Later this month, Sir Denis Follows CBE will be posthumously inducted into the University of Nottingham Sport Hall of Fame. An English graduate of the University, Sir Denis went on to become one of the UK’s most influential sports administrators, but is perhaps best known for penning the official letter that lifted the ban on women’s football, opening a pathway for the women’s game to grow into what it is today - a move that saw him later appointed an honorary life vice-president of the Women’s Football Association.  

Sir Denis Follows will be inducted into the University of Nottingham Sport Hall of Fame during the BUCS Big Wednesday Launch Dinner on Tuesday 24 March at the East Midlands Conference Centre on University Park campus. His daughter Margaret Ferris will receive the award on his behalf. 

Emma Thorne - Head of News
Email: emma.thorne@nottingham.ac.uk
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