Category: Equality and diversity

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Doctoral Conference: Wednesday 19 June 2024

Conference attendees at the afternoon networking session, 19 June 2024

Programme

Welcome and overview to the day
(10.00 – 10.15)

Student talks session 1
(10.15 – 11.15)

Option A (room BCB 307)

Chris Daniel
Investigating carprofen’s mechanisms of bactericidal action against tuberculosis (TB) and TB-like respiratory infections

Niro Amin
The Wounded Healer Manifesto

Mukesh Bhatt
Earth and Outer Space: revisiting the evolution of transcultural extraterrestrial law

Option B (Room BCB 310)

John Siblon
Physical and nominal repatriation of African, Asian, Arab, and Caribbean naval personnel after the First World War

Heather Goodman
Black Female Temporality on The Salt Roads

Debi Lewinson
Roberts So it go! Using a Black Feminist theoretical lens to analyse grief and loss in Black Caribbean families

Option C (Room BCB 311)

Shani Cadwallender
Hard Graft: Toru Dutt and Romantic inheritance

Haydar Allami
Feyli Kurds in the United Kingdom: Narratives of Diasporic Home Making and Belonging

Adeyemi Awomodu
The impact of the Language of Instruction on educational experiences and attainment in Nigerian primary education.

Tea and coffee break
(11.15 – 11.45)

Student talks session 2
(11.45 – 12.45)

Option A (room BCB 307)

Carolann Edwards
Lawyers Feeling Envied at Work and their Response

Roland Amagbo
Geopolitical risk and wheat volatility

Shannon Sahni
Space Mapping as Methodology

Option B (room BCB 310)

Jamila Thompson
Social Media as Site for Black Feminism: Black Women’s Digital Diaspora, Collectivity and Resistance

Nandita Sirker
Do you see us ? Can you hear us? A Black Feminist exploration of Motherhood and Refugeeness

Joy Brooks-Gilzeane
Collective identities and political mobilisation: Black British Feminism 1970-2000

Option C (room BCB 311)

Aishwarya Srinivasan
Perspectives of Early Career ADHDers: Narratives, Challenges and Opportunities

Reetu Sood
Managing Multiplicity: Mixing Business and Friendship

Georgia Bondy
The experience of Kink and BDSM for mobility-disabled people

Lunch break
(12.45 – 13.45)

Student talks session 3
(13.45 – 14.45)

Option A (room BCB 307)

Teleica Kirkland
Skin Politics: How to Dress away Racism

Helena Wee
Elemental form and movement.

Amrit Deogon
Identity and work: Exploring the lived experiences of visibly observant Sikh men in the workplace

Option B (room BCB 310)

Jana Manuelpillai
Reorientating Darkness: Exploring the intersection of racial diversity and blindness within US TV

Sailee Khurjekar
The Worst Race Scenario: Racial Minorities and Obscene Art

Margaret Ochieng
The Power-shaped Narratives of Post-Floydian Anti-racism in UK Organisations

Option C (room BCB 311)

Sarah Bekkali
Tort Law an the Question of Race: A case study from the Netherlands

Crina Morteanu
The Margin of Appreciation, Deference and the Roma: Differing Standards of Protection at the European Court of Human Rights

Kaso Kardonya
Choice of Court Agreement in Private International Law of Insurance Contracts

Tea and coffee break with networking
(14.45 – 15.30)

This is a longer session than the other tea/ coffee breaks •Three broad themes as the basis for some more structured networking at the 14.45 tea and coffee break. •After about 15 minutes you will be invited to decide whether to carry on in the area you are in; or change to another theme.

Themes

  • Intersectionality and Social Justice
  • Decolonisation and Historical Narratives
  • Sustainability in the environment, economy, health or technology

Workshop sessions
(15.30 – 16.30)

Option A (room BCB 307)

How to get an academic paper published
Dr Chao-yo Cheng

Option B (room BCB 310)

How to become a Principal Investigator
Professor Sanjib Bhakta

Option C (room BCB 311)

How to become a lecturer
Dr Michael Tsang

Closing comments
(16.30 – 17.00)

Break in schedule
(17.00 – 18.00)

Panel discussion
(18.00 – 18.30)

CLore Lecture theatre

Short panel discussion: Highlighting work and opportunities at Birkbeck aimed at improving research culture and support for BAME Doctoral Scholars
•Dr William Ackah, Senior Lecturer in Black and Community Geographies. William has been one of the organisers of the BAME Doctoral Conference and is part of a team that has produced a new book on the Black PhD experience. •Professor Stewart Motha, Professor of Law and Academic Lead for the Birkbeck Race Equality Charter application •Professor Karen Wells, Professor of International Development and Childhood studies, and an academic lead for the recently awarded Wellcome Trust Institutional Funding for Research Culture (IFRC) award. •Professor Julian Swann (Chair), Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Director of the Birbeck Graduate Research School

Keynote speaker: Professor Jason Arday
(18.30 – 19.30)

CLore Lecture theatre

Jason Arday is Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education. He was formerly a Guest Editor on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and listed 4th  on the prestigious Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 in 2023.

Reception
(19.30 – 20.30)

CLore foyer

Is a PhD right for me? A free online course

Sabrina Bowen, CHASE EDI Ambassador

Deciding whether to pursue a PhD is a big deal that involves carefully considering your academic and personal goals, while also weighing the challenges and benefits that come with doctoral study. The ‘Is a PhD right for me?‘ course by the Bloomsbury Learning Exchange, available on the FutureLearn platform, is a three-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed to provide prospective PhD students with the insights needed to make informed decisions about applying to a PhD program.

This course is a great resource for anyone thinking about doctoral study, especially because exploring a PhD can be an overwhelming and isolating experience, considering that many peers, family members, and friends may not have undergone this type of academic journey. ‘Is a PhD right for me?’ offers a supportive community where you can actively engage in discussions with fellow course members through comments. This platform allows you to share ideas, ask questions, and connect with like-minded individuals who are navigating the same decisions as you.

Among the course’s numerous benefits, a standout feature is its in-depth coverage of essential topics. The ‘Finance and Funding’ section, for instance, breaks down the costs associated with pursuing a PhD and explores potential funding options available to cover these expenses. The course addresses questions that you might hesitate to ask potential supervisors or the university you are applying to such as what a potential supervisor is looking for in a supervisee and what daily life looks like as a PhD student. In addition, you have the opportunity to hear from current PhD students studying a range of different subjects who share their thoughts, advice and lessons learned from their own application experience. Giving you first-hand knowledge that can be difficult to get elsewhere.

What sets this course apart is its multifaceted approach. It incorporates a variety of learning materials, including videos featuring current and prospective PhD students from a range of diverse backgrounds, articles, and reflection tasks. This diverse format caters to different learning styles, ensuring that the course remains engaging and informative throughout. ‘Is a PhD right for me?’ not only equips you with practical knowledge but also provides a platform to connect with a supportive community as you navigate the significant decision of whether a PhD is the right path for you.

Bloomsbury Learning Exchange’s ‘Is a PhD right for me?’ course is an excellent resource if you are considering pursuing a PhD in the UK. It provides you with a clearer understanding of the doctoral landscape and equips you with the foundational knowledge and confidence needed to embark on the path towards a successful and fulfilling doctoral experience in the UK.

Course Timeline

Week 1

  • Introduction to the course
  • The Basics: who does a PhD, what is a PhD and why does anyone do one?
  • Practical Matters: A focus on special preparation and goals relevant to individual circumstances
  • Finance and Funding

Week 2

  • Research: your research idea, ethics and proposals
  • Supervisors: how to find and contact a potential supervisor
  • Applications: how to prepare and submit various types of applications

Week 3

  • Managing work-life balance
  • Supervisors and support: a look at the various support in place for PhD students
  • Wellbeing and mental health
  • Life after PhD

CHASE EDI Ambassador

Sabrina Bowen

As part of their Diversity Action plan the AHRC CHASE DTP has provided funding to appoint a part time CHASE EDI Ambassador who will provide support for activities at Birkbeck aiming to:

  • Improve the pipeline of students from minority ethnic underrepresented backgrounds from undergraduate and taught postgraduate to arts and humanities doctoral research at Birkbeck
  • Ensure that arts and humanities doctoral researchers from underrepresented minority ethnic backgrounds are better supported at Birkbeck

This role aims to help to organise and run online events and in person activities aimed at:

  • Promoting doctoral study
  • De-mystifying the doctoral application processes and explaining the experience of being an arts and humanities doctoral researcher.
  • Identifying ways in which current arts and humanities doctoral researchers from under-represented minority ethnic groups can be effectively supported through the PhD at Birkbeck.

The post was advertised to all doctoral researchers at Birbeck and we were fortunate to have some extremely strong applications for the role. Following interviews last month we are pleased to appoint Sabrina Bowen as the CHASE EDI Ambassador at Birkbeck.

Sabrina Bowen

Sabrina is a 2nd year PhD Student within the School of Social Sciences, her research explores the intergenerational roles of the UK-based Caribbean diaspora in the development of their homeland.

Sabrina will work within the Birkbeck Graduate Research School team in collaboration with colleagues who are working on aspects of under-representation at doctoral level including:

  • Dr William Ackah, Senior Lecturer within the School of Social Sciences.
  • Caroline McDonald, Director of Access & Engagement – Access & Engagement at Birkbeck.

British Federation of Women Graduates Awards for doctoral students 2023

Applications for British Federation of Women Graduates Academic
Awards are now being sought. The Awards are made to women doctoral students who will be in, or going into, their third year (or part time equivalent) of work for a doctorate in the autumn of 2023.


Awards are, in effect, one off prizes varying in value from £1,000 to £6,000 and are given for outstanding academic excellence coupled with the ability to communicate to an educated but non-specialist audience.
50% of the award will be paid in the autumn of 2023, near the start of the academic year, with 50% on receipt of a progress report in spring 2024.
For further details please go to:
www.bfwg.org.uk

and look up under ‘Awards/Scholarships’ where more information,
including criteria for eligibility, can be found.
Closing date for applications is:
5pm on Friday 3rd March 2023

BRITISH FEDERATION OF WOMEN GRADUATES
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS DAY
Saturday 13th May 2023
10.30am – 4.00pm


Venue: Institute of Archaeology, UCL, Gordon Square, London WC1 0PY
The Research Presentations Day is when BFWG invites doctoral students to present their research to a general, i.e. not subject specialist, audience.


• Are you a woman doctoral student?
• Do you have research you would like to present to a discerning audience
– and have the chance of winning a small prize of £120 for the best presentation?
• Or would you like to join with us, just to meet and listen to other postgraduate women students presenting their research?


Our Research Presentations Day (RPD) offers these opportunities. Past attendees, both presenters and audience, have found the Day thoroughly enjoyable and helpful in developing presentation skills.
The day will also involve an introduction to the 2022 BFWG Scholarship Fund Academic Award winners.
If you think you would like to submit an abstract please look at BFWG webpages
www.bfwg.org.uk or contact rpd@bfwg.org.uk for further details. Closing date for applications is: March 31st 2023.
All -students, academics, anyone else interested (male or female) – are welcome to attend as audience. Lunch is included and there is a door charge of £10 but no charge for bona fide students whether attending as presenters or as audience.

CHASE Feminist Network: Open Forum Meeting 2023

Join us in this open discussion to find your place in the CHASE Feminist Network, now rescheduled for 12 January 2023, 16:00 GMT.

The CHASE Feminist Network invites you to an open forum meeting to discuss the future of the network. Help shape this important and impactful network and come discuss what events you’d like to attend, participate in or organise. 

On the agenda: We will be reviving the CHASE Feminist Network Conference this year, a popular and successful in-person event in pre-pandemic years. If you have any thoughts on what you’d like to see for this conference, ideas for themes or any other suggestions, please bring them with you to the Open Forum.

Beyond that, we’re looking for input on how the network should be run, what kind of events you’d like to see, and most importantly, how we can bridge the incredible programmes of CFN’s past archives with our promising next chapter.

About CFN: The CHASE Feminist Network has been facilitating incredible events and projects since 2016. From small project grants to interdisciplinary conferences, this inclusive space offers a breadth of opportunities to explore new ways to engage with and advocate for feminism in all its varieties. Now, after a short hiatus, we’re starting afresh with new ideas and a new cohort. And we want you to be a part of it.

All are welcome, see you there!

Flow n Flux

Monthly Newsletter

By Kim Caris-Roberts
Flow n Flux
“BIG BROTHER HOUSE, THIS IS DAVINA, YOU ARE LIVE ON
CHANNEL 4, PLEASE DO NOT SWEAR!”
This month there really was only one place to begin. Each and every one of us at Flow n Flux wanted to acknowledge how scary the world seems right now, in the wake of the war in the Ukraine; watching war unfold can make us feel powerless and the range of emotions can be complex. We needed to acknowledge that.
Were there any ‘right words’ for the current climate? We concluded not.
We expressed and shared our concerns and we are thankful we have a safe space to do this.


We then began to explore March’s theme: Reality TV. Big Brother seemed to have been the most common first experience of the genre, mentioned a number of times in our individual offerings from the free-writing activity, which enabled interesting free association using 9 words to gently guide us in our flow.
“It’s always been my guilty pleasure”, a statement many of us identified with. Why guilty? We discussed the topics of ‘contestant’ exploitation, whether the burgeoning genre which shows no signs of slowing offers opportunities once unheard of to generations, we questioned does Reality TV alleviate any need for talent?, what constitutes reality TV? Perhaps one unexpected answer: Football.


Referring to The White Pube Podcast: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, we
continued to explore our oft’ complicated relationship with this genre of TV. After much discussion one member proudly proclaimed “I am dropping my shame around
Reality TV: I love it!”.


Our last task was to create a Dragon’s Den-esque pitch for a new Reality TV show which embedded Feminist thought…Cue one group who pitched a plethora of misogyny offenders fighting it out for the opportunity to repent for their harms to cries of “In the pit! In the Pit!” that will forever echo in my ears every time I watch The Hunger Games.


For April we consider the questions of difference which have been
central to the way that the feminist movement articulates itself.
Specifically, we will explore difference among women, in particular,
along the lines of race, class and sexuality, as well as national and
geopolitical location. We will consider feminism, using Black feminism
as our centre, in order to look critically at the current cultural landscape.

Little Extras
April 1st-31st- Autism Awareness Month
April 1st-31st Stress Awareness Month
April 7th – World Health Day
April 25th-29th National Stalking Awareness Week
April 25th-1st May Lesbian Visibility Week

If you want to join FnF mailing list, please email:
flownflux@gmail.com

Call for Articles – Dandelion Journal Special Issue on Intersectionality

A core component of critical race theory, the term intersectionality was coined by American lawyer and academic Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1991 to describe the “multidimensionality” of the Black woman’s experience.

It describes how an individual’s different identities – such as gender identity, race, class, etc – intersect and overlap to create compound, interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. For example, a white woman may experience misogyny and a Black man may experience racism, but a Black woman will experience both misogyny and racism. All three experience discrimination – and, consequently, disadvantaged – but in different forms and to varying degrees.

This special issue of Dandelion Journal asks what role intersectional identities have in the arts (e.g. film, television, journalism, poetry, fine art, photography, literature, etc.), and how they impact on the production, sale and distribution of art/media objects around the world.

  • What impact do intersectional identities have on – and within – the arts, if any?
  • What can we learn from studying lived experiences in the arts through an intersectional lens?
  • How can we approach, understand and/or evaluate decision-making processes in the arts from an intersectional perspective?

We invite postgraduate research students to consider and respond to these questions within their specific disciplines and research foci, and to look forward towards a decolonised future within the arts.

Potential topics for exploration include, but are not limited to:

  • The decolonised newsroom.
  • Intersectional migration narratives.
  • Locating Black women in the history of art.
  • Intersectionality in fiction – contemporary and historical.
  • Decolonising galleries and museums.
  • Intersectionality in contemporary and historical fiction.
  • Language, identity and resistance.
  • Intersectional poetry.
  • Film and television – intersectionality on camera and behind the scenes.
  • The intersectional writer’s room (television).

Articles should be 2000 to 2500 words long. We would also be interested in publishing short works of speculative fiction between 1000 and 3000 words on the theme of intersectionality in the arts. You may also submit works of poetry or visual art pieces, accompanied by a critical reflection on your work of no more than 1500 words. We are happy to take any questions and discuss ideas with interested authors prior to the submission deadline.

Please send completed submissions to nsmith22@student.bbk.ac.uk before 1st June 2022, including a 50-word author biography and a 200-300 word abstract. All referencing and style is required in MHRA format as a condition of publication, and submitted articles should be academically rigorous and ready for immediate publication. Complete instructions for submission can be found at www.dandelionjournal.org.

British Federation of Women Graduates Academic Awards for women doctoral students

Applications for British Federation of Women Graduates Academic Awards are now being sought. The Awards are made to women doctoral students who will be in, or going into, their third year (or part time equivalent) of work for a research PhD/DPhil etc. in the autumn of 2022.
Awards are, in effect, one off prizes varying in value from £1,000 to £6,000 and are given for outstanding academic excellence coupled with written and verbal communication skills. For further details please go to:
www.bfwg.org.uk
and look up under ‘Awards/Scholarships’ where more information, including criteria for eligibility, can be found.


Closing date for applications is:
5pm on Friday 4th March 2022

BRITISH FEDERATION OF WOMEN GRADUATES
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS DAY

Saturday 14th May 2022
10.30am – 4.00pm
At BFWG HQ: 4 Mandeville Courtyard, 142 Battersea Park Road,
London SW11 4NB

The RPD is when BFWG invites doctoral students to present their research to a general audience. Last year we were had to hold the Day as a ‘virtual’ event due to the pandemic. We hope that it will be possible to hold the Day in person this year and we invite postgraduate students to submit abstracts of their research for consideration. Abstract forms will be available on the BFWG website: www.bfwg.org.uk

Are you a postgraduate woman student? Do you have research you would like to present to a discerning audience – and have the chance of winning a small prize of £120 for the best presentation to a general audience? Or would you like to join with us, just to meet and listen to other postgraduate women students presenting their research? Our Research Presentations Day (RPD) offers these opportunities. Past attendees, both presenters and audience, have found the Day thoroughly enjoyable and helpful in developing presentation skills. If you think you would like to submit an abstract please look at BFWG webpages www.bfwg.org.uk or contact rpd@bfwg.org.uk for further details. Closing date for applications is: March 31st 2022
All -students, academics, anyone else interested (male or female) – are welcome to attend as audience. Lunch is included and there is a door charge of £10 but no charge for bona fide students whether attending as presenters or as audience.