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Diversity Initiatives

Five hands of different ethnicities next to each other on a table

 

At the Department of History we are committed to creating an all-inclusive culture and environment where individuals are able to thrive, irrespective of their background, worldview and identity. This not only means that everybody has an equal opportunity and is not treated differently or discriminated against, but also that differences between people and groups are taken account of and appreciated and, what is probably the most challenging, that we actively promote equality and seek and invite contribution and participation from everyone in our community. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, which includes the department’s student representatives as well as staff, functions to monitor and safeguard this process. We are keen to hear your views and experiences in order to understand whether you feel part of your department and university and what we can do to eradicate discrimination of any kind.

It is legally binding for public authorities to promote equality and to ensure that other organisations, such as universities, meet their legal duties to do the same. Further information can be found in the Equality Act 2010 that specifies legal requirements regarding nine protected characteristics: age, sex, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, and disability. However, we are conscious that there are many more forms of discrimination that take place at university premises and beyond. For instance, people can be made subject of discrimination, as well as implicit bias, microagression and harassment based on their socioeconomic background, such as class, as well as place of origin, such as accent. There is no place for them at our department (For a glossary of terms, see Glossary).

Important initiatives driven by the EDI Committee include: decolonising, Athena SWAN, widening participation, and working with our Public History lead on encouraging public debate (e.g. Black History Month, International Women’s Day, LGBTQ events). We also collaborate with other university and external bodies in organising events and training for both students and staff on EDI issues. We are keen to implement recommendations of the Royal Historical Society's reports into Gender Equality; Race, Ethnicity & Equality; and LGBT+ Histories and Historians.

If you have been affected by bullying and harassment, hate incidents, or sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, these can be reported using Durham University's Report &
Support tool.

Decolonising History

The Department of History is committed to decolonisation, which we recognise as a complex and multifaceted process that encompasses education, research, departmental culture, outreach and student support. To this end, academic staff in the Department of History have formed a Decolonisation Working Group. These pages contain important information about our decolonisation initiatives, as well as resources that we hope will contribute to this endeavour.

Learn more about our decolonisation initiatives

Athena SWAN

The Athena SWAN Bronze Award recognises our commitment to advancing women's careers in academia, progressing our students into academia and improving our work environment for all staff.

Learn more about our Athena SWAN award

 

Find Out More

Use the links below to learn more about how we are promoting diversity at Durham

Decolonising History

Click here to learn more
Diversity Initiatives balloons

Athena SWAN

Click here to learn more
Students listening in a Department of History seminar

Prizes and Fellowships

Click here to learn more
Student sat studying on campus

Resources

Click here to see our list of resources
A selection of books that have been scattered on the ground

What's new?

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  • Royal Society APEX award for Joseph Martin

    Congratulations to Dr Joseph Martin who has won a Royal Society Apex award for his work on the history of soft matter physics.
  • Transformative Humanities framework launched

    Durham University's Transformative Humanities launched yesterday and gathered more than 130 researchers, colleagues, students, and partners from across the region and beyond to celebrate this new interdisciplinary framework.
    Transformative Humanities launch news banner
  • Award Winners: Durham University's Global Curriculum Award

    Massive congratulations to Professor Jonathan Saha, Dr Radha Kapuria, and Dr Chris Bahl for winning the Durham University's Global Curriculum Award 2024.
    Photo of Prof Jonathan Saha, Dr Radha Kapuria, and Dr Chris Bahl
  • Launching Environmental Histories and Futures of the North East

    The Environmental Histories and Futures of the North East (EHFNE) project brings together North East academic researchers in the social sciences and humanities and community organisations to create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. The project aims to foster future research partnerships that centre local interests and community priorities through regular seminars and community steering group meetings.
    A group of students and staff in a seminar room
  • Book Launch: Music in Colonial Punjab, Dr Radha Kapuria

    Join the author, Dr Radha Kapuria (Durham, History), in conversation with Prof Laura Leante (Durham, Music), Dr Maryam Mirza (Durham, English Studies), and Dr Christopher Bahl (Durham, History).
    Image of the cover of Music in Colonial Punjab on a black background. There are 4 photographs of the speakers, and a box of text with the names of the contributors at the bottom of the page
  • Exploring the Victorian Occult

    As Halloween approaches, we talk to Dr Efram Sera-Shriar, Associate Director of Research for the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies, International, at Durham. His research explores the study of the occult and its intersection with the sciences. He is the lead organiser for Beyond the Veil: Cross-Cultural & Interdisciplinary Studies of Horror, Gothic, and the Occult in the Nineteenth Century, taking place on Halloween, 31 October.
    Apparition during palm reading from 1869
  • International physics honour for Durham University historian

    A leading body representing physicists across the world has presented one of its most prestigious honours to a Durham historian.
    Joseph D Martin smiles at camera standing in the countryside

Transformative Humanities framework launched

Durham University's Transformative Humanities launched yesterday and gathered more than 130 researchers, colleagues, students, and partners from across the region and beyond to celebrate this new interdisciplinary framework.
Transformative Humanities launch news banner

Award Winners: Durham University's Global Curriculum Award

Massive congratulations to Professor Jonathan Saha, Dr Radha Kapuria, and Dr Chris Bahl for winning the Durham University's Global Curriculum Award 2024.
Photo of Prof Jonathan Saha, Dr Radha Kapuria, and Dr Chris Bahl

Launching Environmental Histories and Futures of the North East

The Environmental Histories and Futures of the North East (EHFNE) project brings together North East academic researchers in the social sciences and humanities and community organisations to create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. The project aims to foster future research partnerships that centre local interests and community priorities through regular seminars and community steering group meetings.
A group of students and staff in a seminar room

Book Launch: Music in Colonial Punjab, Dr Radha Kapuria

Join the author, Dr Radha Kapuria (Durham, History), in conversation with Prof Laura Leante (Durham, Music), Dr Maryam Mirza (Durham, English Studies), and Dr Christopher Bahl (Durham, History).
Image of the cover of Music in Colonial Punjab on a black background. There are 4 photographs of the speakers, and a box of text with the names of the contributors at the bottom of the page

Exploring the Victorian Occult

As Halloween approaches, we talk to Dr Efram Sera-Shriar, Associate Director of Research for the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies, International, at Durham. His research explores the study of the occult and its intersection with the sciences. He is the lead organiser for Beyond the Veil: Cross-Cultural & Interdisciplinary Studies of Horror, Gothic, and the Occult in the Nineteenth Century, taking place on Halloween, 31 October.
Apparition during palm reading from 1869

International physics honour for Durham University historian

A leading body representing physicists across the world has presented one of its most prestigious honours to a Durham historian.
Joseph D Martin smiles at camera standing in the countryside

Departmental Anti-Racism Statement and Updated Diversity Webpages

Our Departmental anti-racism statement is being re-released to coincide with a major update to our diversity webpages
Group of colourful wooden people

Decolonising the Curriculum Internship - Now Recruiting

We are pleased to announce that the History Department is now recruiting for a new 'Decolonising the Curriculum' internship