Disability Inclusive Science Careers

Project Background 

Although universities are making efforts to achieve gender equality, for example through Athena Swan, little work has been undertaken to improve disability inclusion in UK Higher Education. This project aims to foster disability inclusion within STEM careers by increasing the disability literacy of research leaders and trade union representatives. Using immersive virtual reality, DISC, aims to support research leaders to better understand disability and embed disability accessibility into their decision making.

Research Questions 

  • What are the experiences of disabled academics in STEM?
  • To what extent to research leaders understand the needs of disabled colleagues and associated legal frameworks?
  • How can we improve the inclusion of disabled academics in UK universities?

Methods

A participatory action research approach to codesign interventions to improve disability inclusion in UK universities.

Project Leads/ Supervisors 

Co-investigators/ PhDs/ RAs 

  • Dr Jen Remnant 
  • Abraham Babajide – PhD student
  • Dr James Richard
  • Professor Robert MacIntosh
  • Professor Steve McLaughlin
  • Professor Malcolm Chrisp
  • Professor Beatrice Pelloni
  • Dr Sara Shinton - University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Frederik Bosche - University of Edinburgh

Funding 

EPSRC - Inclusion Matters