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Researchers awarded £525k to boost diversity in Engineering and Physical Sciences
The university is alongside eight others and six companies that have joined forces and secured £525,000 for a project to tackle this issue in the North of England. The researchers hope that creating a more inclusive culture in the sector will lead to a more diverse talent pool and, ultimately, better science and engineering with which to address pressing global challenges.
Professor Dorothy Monekosso, Professor of Computer Science and project lead for Leeds Beckett University, said: “The under-representation of women, disabled people, LGBT+, and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in engineering and physical sciences is a long–standing issue. Here at Leeds Beckett University we value inclusivity and fair access very highly and so are pleased that we can help to make a positive difference in the north to the representation in these subjects.
”I studied engineering at university because I was passionate about the subject, about building things and after a decade in industry, I joined academia to pursue research. There is a serious issue with retention of female engineers compared to their male counterparts and we need to work towards making STEM departments a place where all talented scientists and engineers want to stay. I hope that projects such as this one will have a long term impact.”
The project’s activities include: shared characteristic mentoring; reverse mentoring; establishing an online networking platform; leadership and networking development; collaboration with industry; and improved data capture and analysis.
Durham University are leading the project, which also includes: Lancaster University, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Teesside University, University of Huddersfield, University of Hull, and University of Leeds. Industrial partners include: Atom Bank, Stanley Black and Decker, GTN Limited, IBM, Northumbrian Water Ltd., and SAGE.
The project is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.