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International Women's Day
International Women's Day 2023

International Women's Day

There are extraordinary women at Durham.

On International Women’s Day we are celebrating the women at Durham: sharing their stories and recognising their astounding achievements.

We value difference in our community. A community in which all can learn from each other in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. 

As we strive for a gender-equal world we also celebrate the international and multicultural diversity that defines us as a leading, global university during Durham Global Week.

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Hear from our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Karen O'Brien

Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, tells us why she is proud to work in the company of incredible women at Durham, who are from over 90 countries worldwide, and whose international and multicultural diversity help define us as a leading, global university. 

Watch now

Women in Research

Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson

Find out more about Dr Holmes-Henderson's work in influencing policy

Arlene Holmes Henderson

Dr Ariadna Calcines

Find out more about Dr Ariadna Calcines' love of physics and how a teacher changed the direction of her life

  • Dr Maria Kakarika

    Dr Maria Kakarika works on ‘gendered’ social perceptions and issues affecting women in the workplace

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  • Dr Farzana Chowdhury

    Find out more about Dr Farzana Chowdhury’s research on entrepreneurship

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Dr Maria Kakarika

Dr Maria Kakarika works on ‘gendered’ social perceptions and issues affecting women in the workplace

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Dr Farzana Chowdhury

Find out more about Dr Farzana Chowdhury’s research on entrepreneurship

Farzana Chowdhury against white background

  • Dr Natalie Mears

    Read more about Dr Natalie Mears' current project re-examining Elizabeth I following the #MeToo movement

    Dr Natalie Mears

  • Dr Nicole Renehan

    Dr Renehan co-convenes the criminology/sociology modules Violence and Abuse in Society and Gender, Violence and Abuse

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Dr Natalie Mears

Read more about Dr Natalie Mears' current project re-examining Elizabeth I following the #MeToo movement

Dr Natalie Mears

Dr Nicole Renehan

Dr Renehan co-convenes the criminology/sociology modules Violence and Abuse in Society and Gender, Violence and Abuse

Lady with dark hair

  • Professor Camila Caiado

    Professor Camila Caiado's research currently involves collaborations in banking, health and engineering

  • Dr Kate O'Brien

    Dr Kate O'Brien is the Co-Director of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Programme

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Professor Camila Caiado

Professor Camila Caiado's research currently involves collaborations in banking, health and engineering

Dr Kate O'Brien

Dr Kate O'Brien is the Co-Director of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Programme

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Championing our Colleagues

Tea with the VC

As part of our International Women's Day celebrations, we are offering three students the chance to talk with our VC Professor Karen O'Brien over afternoon tea, about her experiences in Higher Education, her role, and your own career aspirations. The opportunity is open to women who are currently Durham University students in any year of study.
Find out more and apply
Karen O'Brien
Vic Horran at Transplant Games

Meet Vic Horan, who is heading to the World Transplant Games

Vic Horan, a Faculty Co-ordinator in the Business School, is preparing to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the fourth time in the World Transplant Games in Perth this April.

Find out more

Shadowing Opportunities

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of our senior leaders looks like? Would you like to learn more about a particular role? This is an opportunity for women staff and students to shadow members of our Executive team and some of our other senior leaders across the institution.
Find out more and apply
PVC Global Claire O'Malley

 

 

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Breaking boundaries

Our students are strong, versatile and dynamic. We are so proud that they continue to break boundaries every day.

Watch The Durham Student #BreakTheBias TikTok

Our Phenomenal Students

 

 

University student
Outside of my degree, I have become quite a fan of weightlifting since coming to university and actually joined Durham University Lifting Club at the start of second year! Something that I would not have expected from myself two years ago.
Alice Booth
Biosciences student

Women Alumni - leading the way

New Generation Thinker 2022

Dr Louise Creechan has been selected as a New Generation Thinker by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for her pioneering research on neurodiversity, illiteracy, education and disability studies
Find out more
Louise Creechan - BBC New Generation Thinker
Women in the workplace

Women's Work

Professor Karen O’Brien reflects on universities’ progress towards gender equality

Read more

Women's Research Impact at Durham

Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill delivers Reith Lecture on BBC Radio 4

Our new Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill, who will be officially installed this summer, was chosen to deliver a prestigious Reith Lecture for BBC Radio 4 in December 2022. Dr Hill was one of four leading thinkers to give a lecture as part of a series inspired by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ‘Four Freedoms’ speech of January 1941. Foreign affairs specialist Dr Hill, who has advised US presidents including George W. Bush and Barack Obama, gave her lecture on ‘Freedom from Fear’.
Listen to it here on BBC Sounds

Get involved

Dr Stacey Pope

Listen to a podcast interview with Dr Stacey Pope as she discusses building gender equality in football in the context of the success of the England women's football team at Euro 2022.
Listen now
Women playing football

   

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TechUP Skills Bootcamps - Mini Documentary

This mini documentary explains the Skills Bootcamps being run by TechUPWomen developed closely with industry - an innovative and versatile way to equip women from underserved groups with the tech skills they need to accelerate their careers.

Working with new partner Catch22, the new TechUPWomen 2023 programme will provide technical and soft skills training plus mentoring and careers support.

Applications are open until 20 March 2023 at 5pm. 

Find out more and apply

Nicole Westmarland: Men’s Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Some men are playing an active part in speaking out against violence towards women – but not nearly enough. So how do those men who are involved in anti-violence activism come to that position, and what can we learn from their experiences? Listen to a podcast interview with Nicole Westmarland, Professor of Criminology and Director of Durham University’s Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse
Listen now
Nicole Westmarland profile

 

 

 

 

The benefits of solitude

"While solitude is often associated with loneliness, it can also bring calmness. The difference is feeling that we have a choice in when and how we spend time alone." Dr Delali Konu, Pearl Tshimbalanga and Dr Thuy-vy Nguyen share their top tips to unlock the power of solitude, from their research in the Solitude Lab, Department of Psychology.
Read more
Dr Delali Konu, Pearl Tshimbalanga and Dr Thuy-vy Nguyen