Throughout this webinar series, we illuminate the science behind the issues being experienced and provide support tailored to the needs of chemical scientists including sharing coping strategies and reducing stigma around mental health and wellbeing.

BSL interpretation is provided on all webinars.

View recordings of the series

Nature and mental wellbeing

Thursday 13 May 2021, 15:30-16:30 BST

As part of our Building a better chemistry culture series, we hosted a webinar focusing on #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek (10-16 May 2020) theme: access to nature and the impact it can have on our mental wellbeing.

Spending time in nature can have a profoundly positive impact on our mental wellbeing. Whether it’s taking part in physical activities, caring for plants or simply enjoying the green spaces around us, there is little doubt about the positive effects it can bring.

However, not everyone has equal access to nature so it’s important that we recognise and address inequalities and how nature in its many forms could be made accessible to all.

Learn about the connections between nature and mental wellbeing, and the importance of this towards a more inclusive chemical sciences community.

Our speakers, Patricia Zurita (Chief Executive Officer, BirdLife International), Anjana Khatwa (Engagement Lead, Wessex Museums) and Alistair Griffiths (Director of Science and Collections, Royal Horticultural Society) discussed:

  • The benefits of having access to nature on mental health and wellbeing
  • What it means to have access to nature and green spaces, as well as inequalities of access and how nature in its many forms can be made accessible to all
  • The importance of environmental preservation to mental wellbeing

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance and Steve Churchill.

 

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LGBT+ inclusivity

Friday 13 November 2020, 15:30-16:30 GMT

The sixth webinar in the Building a better chemistry culture series focuses on how the chemical sciences can best support and retain LGBT+ individuals. In advanced celebration of #LGBTSTEMDay, we heard from LGBT+ scientists, who are also leaders in inclusion and diversity, to learn about the impact that being supported to bring one’s full self to work can have on scientific output and mental health.

Our speakers, Clara Barker (manager of the Centre for Applied Superconductivity, University of Oxford), Izzy Jayasinghe (UKRI Future Leader Fellow and Senior Research Fellow, University of Sheffield) and David Smith (Professor of Chemistry, University of York) discuss:

  • The need to eradicate LGBT+ discrimination and exclusionary behaviour, as supported by findings in the Royal Society of Chemistry report Exploring the workplace for LGBT+ physical scientists
  • Inequalities experienced within the LGBT+ umbrella, particularly for trans, non-binary and ethnic minority individuals
  • How LGBT+ visibility and allies both play an important role in building welcoming environments
  • A new toolkit of LGBT+ inclusivity resources for the chemistry community, created by the Royal Society of Chemistry

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

 

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Change, uncertainty and resilience

Thursday 17 September 2020, 13:30-14:30 BST

The fifth webinar in the Building a better chemistry culture series focuses on developing resilience to face change and uncertainty, which has been brought to the forefront for many in the chemical sciences as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Our speakers Boon Teo (early-career chemist, Varden Processing), Rehana Sidat (vice president of risk management, GSK) and Sam Thorogood (mindfulness expert, Tiny Pause) discuss:

  • Uncertainty regarding job security and career progression, including the impact of COVID-19
  • Change management, particularly from a leadership perspective
  • The psychology behind facing uncertainty and coping mechanisms to overcome it

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

 

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Tackling bullying and harassment

Thursday 13 August 2020, 15:30-16:30 BST

The fourth webinar in the Building a better chemistry culture series focuses on bullying and harassment in the chemical sciences, including in the context of changing work environments due to COVID-19. The Royal Society of Chemistry reports Breaking the barriers and Exploring the workplace for LGBT+ physical scientists provided evidence of bullying and harassment in the chemical sciences community, alongside a systemic failure of the sector to deal with these issues effectively which may lead to loss of talent.

Our speakers David Richardson (Universities UK taskforce member and Vice-Chancellor, East Anglia University), Carole Mundell (University of Bath and Chief Scientific Adviser to Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and Kevin Coutinho (Chair of the Board of Trustees for Windsor Fellowship and Athena SWAN and Gender Equality Policy Manager, University College London) discuss:

  • What bullying and harassing behaviours look like in professional contexts
  • The impact that bullying and harassment can have on individuals and on careers
  • The difficulties that people face in struggling to talk to friends and colleagues about their experiences
  • How institutions can enact mechanisms to bring about positive culture and behaviour change

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

 

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Managing isolation

Thursday 16 July 2020, 15:30-16:30 BST

The third webinar in the Building a better chemistry culture series focuses on isolation and loneliness, looking beyond COVID-19 lockdowns to explore the context for why someone in the chemical sciences may feel isolated and how building meaningful connections can help create a sense of belonging.

Our speakers Desiree Dickerson (expert in mental health in academia), Mita Dasog (professor and leader in the chemical sciences) and Aaron Berko (lecturer in chemistry) discuss:

  • The psychology behind isolation and its impact on mental health
  • Experiences in the chemical sciences that lead to feeling isolated
  • Finding and creating communities to counteract isolation

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

 

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Flexible working

Thursday 18 June 2020, 15:30-16:30 BST

The second webinar in the series focuses on the challenges of a new remote working culture, which is being experienced by many chemists as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the opportunities that arise from supporting flexibility in work environments.

Our speakers David Sales (expert in leadership and working effectively), Claire Murray (chemist and community leader) and Anna Cox (researcher and leader in inclusion and diversity) discuss:

  • Psychology of remote working, as applied to individuals, teams and organisations
  • Creating community to counter COVID-19 closures
  • Enabling and supporting flexible work environments

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

 

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Related webinars:

Celebrating Black History Month

Thursday 15 October 2020, 15:30-16:30 BST

This webinar celebrates Black History Month, recognising and celebrating Black individuals and their contributions to chemistry. We also showcase the importance to continue building on these achievements while recognising that firm action is needed to eradicate the barriers of racism and discrimination in chemistry. 

Our speakers Karen Salt (expert on governance, race, institutional transformation and justice), Robert Mokaya (Pro-Vice Chancellor for global engagement and chemistry professor at the University of Nottingham) and Lara Mosunmola Lalemi (chemistry PhD student at Bristol University and champion on decolonising science) discuss:

  • Celebrating the Black chemistry community
  • Actions needed from individuals, organisations and institutions to increase Black representation and break down barriers
  • How ensuring a more inclusive community for Black chemists is better for all

BSL interpretation is provided by Rachael Dance, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

 

Find out more and view recording

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