Commitment
Everyone, regardless of background, can learn, work, belong, and succeed in education. Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is about fostering an inclusive, diverse, safe and respectful culture.
The School of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences is committed to providing a positive working environment for all staff and students as well as celebrating diversity within the School community and promoting an environment where equality of opportunity is created for all.
This webpage will highlight EDI information and initiatives in the School.
- The RISE programme
- The Chemistry of Equality - All Ireland Network for Gender Equality in Chemistry
- The Pathways programme
- Outreach activities
- Accessible Laboratory
E-learning modules
Latest News | EDI in Higher Education e-learning Programme | TU Dublin
Guides for networks, groups and committees
Use these short guides to support you when running events, managing committees and communicating information and to help make sure you're promoting inclusion and diversity.
making-your-events-inclusive.pdf (rsc.org)
making-your-committees-inclusive-and-diverse.pdf (rsc.org)
Supporting and inspiring underrepresented students in Chemical Sciences
The School of Chemical & BioPharmaceutical Sciences is delighted to be a partner in the innovative RISE programme which we rolled out this year. It involves providing structured mentoring and practical experience to Retain, Inspire, Support and Enhance (RISE) undergraduate students from ethnically underrepresented groups in the Chemical Sciences. The aim is to increase the number of Black students, and those from other minority ethnic backgrounds, who are pursuing a degree in the Chemical Sciences and who are going on to take up leading roles in academia and industry in the future.
.jpg)
Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the RISE programme is led by Prof Elaine O’Reilly from UCD and involves a partnership between University College Dublin, Technological University Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and Dublin City University. It supports funded summer placements for undergraduates that start at the end of year 1 of their programme (two-week placement) and continue until year 3 of their degree (with a longer industry-based fully funded placement at that stage). Career focussed workshops and opportunities for mentoring are other aspects of the programme.
Six first year students from the School joined the programme this year;
- Elizabeth Akingbade
- Rima Almare
- Joel Bassong
- Catherine Chaita
- Yovela Fubara
- Onwere Okebugwu
The students received two career focussed workshops from TU Dublin Career Development Centre in early June. Marie Kielty delivered a session in TU Dublin Tallaght to the students on CV writing and this was then followed by a practical session where students got a chance to delve into their CV and put the advice into practice. Edel Kearney delivered a session on developing LinkedIn profiles followed by an opportunity to practice also.
This was followed by a two- week placement during which the students got to explore a number of areas and applications of chemistry, working alongside technical staff, academic staff and researchers.
A tour to the State Lab in Celbridge was provided, where the students got an insight into the work carried out within the different units and got to meet graduates from their programmes of study, who are working there. This was followed by a tour of the Pharmaceutical Pilot Plant Facility on Tallaght Campus where the students to see what a manufacturing suite would be like in a BioPharmaceutical company. Tours of TU Dublin research facilities were provided by Prof Brendan Duffy, Health, Engineering and Materials Science Research Hub Lead and by Prof Jesus Frias, Sustainability and Health Research Hub Lead.
In addition to the RISE programme, the Chemistry Future Leaders programme, funded by the School of Chemical & BioPharmaceutical Sciences, enabled an additional six students to complete a one-week placement and career focussed workshops.
- Bibi Hamida Ahmadzai
- Abiola Blessing Aluko
- Aqilah Ardy
- Ross Garland
- Prity Khanum
- Michelle Olakanye
These two programmes are being coordinated by Dr Claire McDonnell and Dr Sarah Rawe in City campus and Dr Maureen Walsh in Tallaght campus. They are very grateful to their colleagues within the School and in the Career Development Centre and Research Hubs for their support with implementation. It would not have been possible to run them without their important contributions.
To read about the Missing Elements report from the Royal Society of Chemistry which shows that we are failing to retain Black Chemists, and those from other minority ethnicities, and to find out about related initiatives, see https://www.rsc.org/policy-evidence-campaigns/inclusion-diversity/surveys-reports-campaigns/racial-and-ethnic-inequalities-in-the-chemical-sciences/
Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) is a charter established and managed by the British Equality Challenge Unit in 2005 that recognises and celebrates good practice towards the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all. The Athena SWAN charter was established to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) employment in higher education and research.
In the School of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences we encourage all staff to consider how they may be influenced by their unconscious bias. Find out more about unconscious bias and how we help staff and students to better understand it and work against it.
What is unconscious bias?
Unconscious Bias occurs due to our brains using our background, personal experiences and cultural environment to make very quick judgements and assessments of people and situations. We are often not aware that we have these unconscious views and opinions but they will be influencing our thoughts and decisions.
Implicit bias and fair decision-making (youtube.com)
How can I learn more about my own unconscious bias?
There are a number of useful online resources that can help you understand unconscious bias:
The University offers a number of family leave options to staff. Further information can be obtained at
Counselling services for Students and Staff are available to assist with personal and work related problems.
The School of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences is dedicated to supporting staff and students who identify as LGBT+ and creating an inclusive community where everyone feels comfortable and safe.
Pronouns
For our LGBT+ colleagues and students, the pronouns we use for them are a big part of their identity. We can show we care by using the right ones and sharing our own. Learn more about use of Pronouns at the following resources.
- Winter Get-Together for Staff
TU Dublin Employee Engagement will be holding an informal, cross-campus, staff Winter Get-Together.
“This is an opportunity to connect with colleagues and get in to the festive spirit. There will be light refreshments and festive treats provided.”
Festive jumpers encouraged, in aid of the TU Dublin Christmas appeal, donating to Childhood Cancer Ireland, Mary’s Meals, and Saint Vincent de Paul. Spot prize for most festive jumper (extra points for homemade/sustainable outfits!)
Thursday, December 14
From 13:30
Locations:
Grangegorman: Central Quad Foyer
Tallaght: Staff Room
Blanchardstown: LINC Café
Aungier Street: AST 2048 & Staff Room
Bolton Street: Room 381
- Guest lecture by Hugo MacNeill OBE on "Inclusive 3rdLevel Education for People with an Intellectual Disability", Monday 8th January 2024, 11:00-12:00, Room 022, Tallaght campus
Hugo MacNeill OBE is a past international rugby player and former director of Goldman Sachs. More recently, Hugo continues to be a strong advocate for people with an intellectual disability in 3rd level education and in employment. He will visit TU Dublin's Tallaght campus on Monday 8th Jan 2024 at 11am to talk about his experiences working with Trinity's Centre for People with Intellectual Disability (TCPID) and the benefits of employing graduates with intellectual disability in enterprise. Please join us for the talk and refreshments afterwards in room 022 of the main Tallaght building.
Please register your availability to attend via Eventbrite here.
Suggestions and feedback from the School community on all EDI issues are welcome, so please make contact with the School’s EDI champion if there is something you would like to bring to our attention:
EDI Champion:
Dr. Maureen Walsh Maureen.walsh@tudublin.ie