Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer for England, has broken new ground for gender equality in the sciences in a letter to the UK Medical Schools Council on 29 July. She will make it a requirement for academic departments applying for funding from the English National Institute for Health Research to hold the silver award of the Athena SWAN (for 'scientific women's academic network') Charter. We urge other funding bodies, including the UK research councils and the Royal Society, to follow suit.

The charter recognizes good employment practice for women in UK science, engineering and technology (SET). It is supported by the Equality Challenge Unit and the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET.

The charter invites applications from UK universities and university-linked research institutes and departments to apply for bronze, silver or gold awards. These awards promote career development as well as gender equality. For example, they encourage improved mentoring and guide parents in how to partition their time between academic and family life.

Departments can only apply for a silver award if their university already holds a bronze award. If a department does not get its silver award immediately, Athena SWAN advisers can recommend improvements. Davies's silver-award requirement will come into play for the next round of funding in four years' time — a practical measure that gives universities and departments time to get their bronze and silver awards.

The Athena SWAN Charter currently recognizes 35 bronze universities, 11 bronze departments, 40 silver departments and one gold department (the University of York's chemistry department). The next deadline for submissions is 30 November.