Pride in STEM Podcast

Discussions of inclusivity in STEM too often do not address major diversity issues, in particular, they do not centre the needs of people of colour. Medicine is no exception and many steps can be taken to ensure medicine is a safe space and safe for all, whether they're a staff member or a patient. Our host Craig Poku (he/they) is joined by the wonderful Dr Kayode Oki (he/him) in the finale of Season 2. Dr Oki discusses his journey through medical school, the barriers he faced at different stages, and what he's doing to ensure that medicine is safe for Black people.

Scicomm is critical to translate complex scientific challenges to a range of audiences. But often, the fact that 'the messenger is just as important as the message' is ignored. Host Dr Craig Poku (he/they) is joined by the wonderful Sarah Cosgriff (she/they). She discusses her scicomm journey and how her intersecting identities allowed her to engage with new audiences.

Marginalised voices are often excluded within the climate justice movement, a movement that is in itself often ignored when it comes to the unfolding Climate Crisis. In this episode, Craig Poku (he/they) is joined by Dr Salma Sabour (she/her) to discuss research, and more specifically, the steps she's taken to ensure no voices are left out of the picture when it comes to one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today.

When you have specific identities, engaging in a career in STEM can be difficult. Sadly, this is the case if you identify as intersex. However, what can we learn from those who are intersex to address their specific barriers? Joining Craig Poku (he/they) is Claudia Astorino (she/her), where she'll talk about her career in STEM as someone who is intersex, the challenges she's faced personally, and what we can learn to address barriers as a community. 

Disabilities have been shown to impact your career path, especially when you want to partake in STEM. However, how do they cause specific problems when you have a chronic illness? Joining Craig Poku (he/they), in today's conversation is the wonderful Dr Jazmin Scarlett (she/her) who talks about her career and the barriers she faced when engaging in volcanology.

In this episode, Dr Craig Poku (he/they) are joined by the brilliant Dr Matt Frost (he/him). The discussion focuses on the additional struggles of navigating academia and a science career as someone who is neurodivergent as well as the solutions the academy could take to create a more inclusive environment.

We are back for Season 2 of the Pride in STEM podcast! Joining Craig Poku (he/they) in this episode is the wonderful Kemi Oloyede (they/them), where we talk about their career journey, the barriers faced by Black scientists engaging in STEM and how they've used creativity to address these barriers. You can see more of Kemi's work here.

The term “rainbow capitalism” is used to refer to organisations not taking the required actions to create a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ staff members while pretending to be supportive. So, the question is, what are the required steps organisations need to take to actually be an ally to the community? In today’s conversation, Dr Craig Poku (he/they; @C_Poku93) will be joined by Anuradha Damale (she/her; @anulikesstars) and James Brumpton (he/him; @Jim936), who will be providing us some insight on this question.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are an unsafe environment for those who identify under the trans umbrella, due in part to the constant attacks in the British Press, building on institutional transphobia in society. If we want to challenge this, especially for those who engage with and work within STEM, we need to look at the behaviours of both ourselves and those around us to create more inclusive spaces. But what does this change look like? In today’s conversation, Dr Craig Poku (he/they; @C_Poku93) will be joined by Dr Shubhangi Karmakar (they/she; @Repealist_) and Avery Cummingham (he/him; @nuqueerengineer), who will give some practical suggestions for what these changes involve.

The support required to make LGBTQ+ members of the community safe is never universal, especially for those who want a career in STEM. This awareness is especially important when we look at intersecting identities, whether that’s race, class or gender. In today’s conversation, Dr Craig Poku (he/they; @C_Poku93) will be joined by Dr Nuzhat Tabassum (she/her; @ThenSheAppears) and Ashar Aslam (he/they; @Ashar_A_Aslam) to discuss what this support would involve when it comes to the South Asian community.