Dedicated to research and reform on gender issues across the globe

A message from Professor Margaret Alston

As a leader, academic and women’s advocate I have always aspired to create a research space where talented women from a diverse range of settings and experiences could work together to bring about greater gender equity for women and girls through research, advocacy and sound policy advice. This website is a communication hub for this work and our progress.

The GLASS research unit has built a broad but critical gender based research agenda investigating diverse issues such as climate change, violence against women, leadership and social sustainability.

The nature of our mission means we are well placed to provide insight and leadership on both the contemporary and emerging issues for women. On this site you will find the latest research and progress towards building a more equitable world for women for and girls across the globe.

I would encourage you to consider joining GLASS through our research and PhD programs. I firmly believe that together we can make a difference to women’s equality and I look forward to sharing our wins along the way!

Professor Margaret Alston OAM, GLASS Research Centre

Professor Margaret Alston, UON

For Women, By Women

GLASS is pleased to announce that we will be running a series of feminist webinars, entitled "For Women, By Women", in which women will engage in informal conversations on gender issues of interest.

Our talented placement student, Victoria Boyle, has produced this introductory video capturing what gender equality means to women and girls. Thanks to all the wonderful women and girls who contributed!

If you're interested in getting involved, please email us at GLASS@newcastle.edu.au

What does gender equality mean to you?

About us

The Gender, Leadership and Social Sustainability (GLASS) Research Unit is located within the School of Humanities and Social Science, in the Faculty of Education and Arts at UON.

GLASS undertakes high-quality, interdisciplinary research focusing on gender, leadership and social sustainability. GLASS researchers have extensive expertise in gender analysis, social research and pursue a broad research agenda including: gender and climate change, violence against women, women and leadership and social sustainability.

GLASS is also a high quality learning environment - providing postgraduate research degrees for talented students from a variety of sectors and non-traditional pathways to postgraduate research in particular for, women and those from non-academic organisations, who have a wealth of experience to contribute to gender research.

Our Beginning

The GLASS Research Unit was established in December 2008 at Monash University. Under the direction of Professor Margaret Alston (OAM), GLASS grew and expanded in both size and reputation. As an interdisciplinary unit, the GLASS team came from a range of academic and professional disciplines including social work, sociology, education, psychology, public health, agriculture, business and architecture.

Now in its new iteration at the University of Newcastle, the GLASS unit will continue this work, collaborating with Monash researchers, to build on these strong foundations. GLASS researchers also collaborate with international scholars on large-scale cross-country research.

Our Vision, Purpose and Values

GLASS Vision: The realisation of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Purpose: GLASS is working to enable women’s participation and leadership opportunities within society to achieve gender equality, social and ecological sustainability and the empowerment of women and girls. GLASS will do this through relevant and collaborative research, leading to informed, high quality contributions to research literature, social dialogue and policy.

GLASS Values:

  • Equality
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Human rights
  • Social justice
  • Climate justice
  • Ethical research

We aim to achieve global gender equity in ways that enable and empower women and girls to lead socially sustainable change.