Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, University of York
Derek Wann is a physical chemist who undertakes research using high-energy electrons, lasers and computational modelling to better understand properties of novel materials.
He has chaired the Department’s Equality & Diversity Group and has been involved in writing and reviewing Athena SWAN applications both in York and previously in Edinburgh. York Chemistry was among the first departments to achieve a Gold AS award and has held it since 2007.
Derek sits on the Advisory Board of the UK Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council funded Inclusion Matters project “Northern Power: Making Engineering and the Physical Sciences a Domain for All in the North of England”.
As well as an interest in gender equality he is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ issues and is co-convenor of the University of York LGBTQ+ staff forum. In 2018 he co-hosted the UK’s LGBTQ+ STEMinar event in York – an opportunity for those that identify as LGBTQ+ and allies to come together to talk about their research as well as equality, diversity and inclusion. He subsequently served on the steering group for this event.
