Institute of Physics: Our membership What does a physicist look like?
Who do you think of when you think “physicist”? Institute of Physics: Our membership
The Institute of Physics (IOP) has collected data about our membership and governance to understand the profile of our members and gain some insights into who they are – diverse people with different ages, ethnicities, beliefs and much more. This helps to determine our priorities for action, to continue our work to ensure equality of opportunity for everyone involved with physics.
Our membership survey
We undertook an anonymous survey of our UK and Ireland membership in July 2015, which has provided valuable information that will help us to continue our commitment to make our services accessible to all, and to implement policies and practices that are fair, inclusive and effective. It enables us to work towards our aim of being a fully inclusive organisation, where all staff and members are valued, and to ensure that all members, and potential members, can participate fully in our activities.
This was the second time we had conducted this survey, following the first in 2011. The demographic range of the responses to the survey were comparable to the 2011 results. Around 13% of the membership responded. We will repeat the survey in 2019. All respondents were given the option of “prefer not to say” on all questions, but relatively few people selected this.
Our membership and governance
The Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee monitors and reviews diversity in our membership and governance activities to help determine our priorities for action. We have set out our most up-to-date data and information.
Our staff
We have included data on our staff profile.
Our strategic priorities for diversity and inclusion
In line with the Institute’s strategy, we have developed strategic priorities for the Diversity and Inclusion Programme. These are: • Championing diversity and inclusion across the STEM community • Building capacity on diversity and inclusion within the Institute’s activities and governance • Promoting wider participation in physics education and careers at all levels from under-represented groups • Ensuring we have an inclusive working environment where all staff respect and value each other
For more information, visit iop.org/diversity Institute of Physics: Our membership
Who responded?
There was greater Our survey respondents gender diversity Gender in the responses 16–19 17.2% from the student, Student member 19.5% affiliate and associate Affiliate 2.2% membership categories, Associate member 10.4% which reflects our Member 37.4% membership profile. Fellow/hon. fellow 10.4% Overall % Women Men Male 69.9% Female 28.0% Other 1.4%
The most ethnically diverse membership category Ethnicity was 16–19 membership (20.5%) and the least was fellow/honorary fellow (3.5%). Asian 5%
Black 1% Mixed/multiple ethnic 2.6% Other ethnic backgrounds 1.2% 20.5% 9.8% 3.5% White British 76.1% 16–19 associate fellow/honorary White Irish 4.6% members members fellow White other 8.1%
Total BME groups 9.8% Total white (British/Irish/other) 88.8%
The responses mirror the age profile of Age our membership.
15–19 years 22.3% 20–29 years 21.9% 30–39 years 11.9% 40–49 years 10.2% 50–59 years 10.3% 60–69 years 11.2% 70–79 years 8.5% 80+ years 3.2%
Membership of the IOP is open to everyone with an interest in physics. iop.org/membership Institute of Physics: Our membership
Religion /belief Sexual orientation
None 38.7%
Christian 28.5%
Atheist 21.6% Other 3.2%
Muslim 1.09%
Hindu 0.9% Jewish 0.7%
Buddhist 0.7% Bisexual 5.2% Gay man 3.4% Gay woman 0.9% Sikh 0.3% Hetersosexual 83.5% Other 2.5%
Disability 9% 18% 14%
Mental-health condition 18.3% of respondents of those declared declared declared a a mental-health multiple Health condition 17.7% disability condition disabilities Specific learning difficulty 12%
Mobility impaired 8.7% Health condition includes long-term conditions such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic Deaf/hearing impaired 5.2% hear t disease or epilepsy. Asperger’s/ASD 7.8% Specific learning difficulty includes dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D.
Blind/visually impaired 2.6%
Multiple 14.2%
Other 17.7%
Members with caring responsibilities More than Socio-economic background* half of our respondents 16% 13% reported that one of females of males of their parents had caring had caring had a first degree responsibilities responsibilities or higher.
The IOP carers’ fund is available to help members with caring No qualifications 11.2% responsibilities to attend physics-related meetings, events or School-level qualifications 29.2% conferences that they might not otherwise be able to go to. Undergraduate degree 25% Any postgraduate qualification 27.7% For more information, contact [email protected].
*Highest level of parental qualification was used as a proxy measure. Institute of Physics: Our membership
Our membership Here is our most up-to-date data on different aspects of our IOP membership, governance, special-interest groups and awards.
Our membership
100 94% 91.3% 89.6% 86% 84.8% 80 74.7% 76.6% 69.8% 60
40 30.2% 25.3% 23.4% 20 15.2% 14% 10.4% 6.9% 6%
Percentage male and female 0 MEM HFEL FEL ASC AFPW STU CENG CPhys (n = 10,669) (n = 33) (n = 2,283) (n = 3,667) (n = 9,441) (n = 15,635) (n = 716) (n = 7,842) Women Men
Categories of membership • Affiliate membership (AFPW) • Fellow (FEL) For anyone with an interest in, but no formal background in, Indicates a very high level of achievement in physics and an physics, who wants to support the Institute’s objectives, and outstanding contribution to the profession have access to member benefits. This includes the 16–19 Honorary fellow (HFEL) age group • Conferred by the Institute for exceptional service to physics or • Students (STU) to someone whose relationship with the Institute has been of Undergraduate students tremendous benefit • Associate membership (ASC) • Chartered Engineer (CEng) and For those who have recently obtained a first degree in the Chartered Physicist (CPhys) physical sciences or engineering, or its equivalent Chartered status is the aspiration of members engaged at the leading edge of all fields of physics and its applications • Member (MEM) For those with at least three years’ post-degree experience during which professional skills have been acquired
Our nations and branches Our groups
14 2 19% 49 10 7 have no female IOP female average female special-interest female committee branches branch chairs membership groups chairs members
The IOP has around 50 special-interest groups that members can join as a benefit of membership, covering a wide range of physics subjects. The IOP also operates locally through a network of member-led branches and national/regional officers. Both networks provide an opportunity for members to be involved in Institute activities, attend conferences and meet socially. Institute of Physics: Our organisation
Our Council
Council membership 2011 to 2016
100 18 57 7 88% Council average female 81% 80 74% members age members 67% 68% 61% 60
39% 40 33% 32% 26% Council consists of 18 members elected from, and by, the
Council members 19% 20 12% corporate membership, and up to three co-opted members
Percentage male and female appointed by Council itself. As the board of trustees, Council has 0 2011/ 2012/ 2013/ 2014/ 2015/ Corporate ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the Institute, and 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 membership* ensuring that it is solvent, well run, and delivering the charitable 2015 Women Men outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up. Council meets four times a year. *Corporate members are those IOP members that would be eligible to be nominated for Council.
Our committees
Proportion of males and females on IOP Council and committees 2015 to 2016 129 75 34 committee filled by women individuals Council (n = 18) 39% 61% positions (44%) Senior officers (n = 8) 3721.6%% 63%
Resources (n = 6) 17% 83%
Audit and risk (n = 8) 25% 28.5% 75% Remuneration (n = 6) 17% 83% Council has a number of standing committees with delegated
Nominations (n = 10) 50% 50% powers. Committee membership is not limited to Council Awards (n = 14) 43% 57% members, allowing for representation from the membership. Honorary fellows (n = 11) 36% 64% In carrying out their work, Council and its committees will take Membership (n = 12) 67% 33% into account the Institute’s vision for diversity and inclusion, Science and innovation (n = 10) 30% 70% working towards an inclusive, sustainable, diverse and vibrant Education (n = 19) 47% 53% physics community, and enabling all members to participate Diversity and inclusion (n = 8) 88% 12% fully in our activities. Women Men Institute of Physics: Our organisation
Our awards Our honorary fellows
12 11% 24% 0 Women Men gold award 10 female female award nominations nominations winners for females* 8 6 * Between 2010 and 2015. 2 Actual number conferred
The IOP awards portfolio spans all areas of physics, as well as 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 contributions made to physics outreach, education and the application of physics-based technologies. iop.org/awards
Our teacher scholarships
Scholarship applicants Females awarded scholarships Percentage of teacher-scholarship applicants 34 out 39 out
2013/2014 26% 67% of 97 of 144 2012/2013 28% 69% in 2012/2013 in 2013/2014 0 20 40 60 80 100 Women Men Unknown
The IOP awards up to 150 teacher-training scholarships each year, in partnership with the Department for Education. The scholarships of £30,000 are awarded to talented individuals entering physics teacher training in England. iop.org/scholarships
Our staff
Under 25 years 2% 25–29 years 12.8% 48% 52% 30–39 years 11.9% 27.7% male female 40–49 years 10.2% 20.3% 50–59 years 10.3% 18.9% 60+ years 11.2% 17.6% Unknown 0.7% Institute of Physics: Our membership What does a physicist look like?
Institute of Physics 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT Tel +44 (0)20 7470 4800 Fax +44 (0)20 7470 4848 www.iop.org
March 2016
Registered charity number 293851 (England & Wales) and SC040092 (Scotland)
The Kitemark is a symbol of certification by BSI and has been awarded to the Institute of Physics for exceptional practice in environmental management systems. Cer tificate number: EMS 573735