The university’s first ever Summer School for Rising Researchers took place over 10 days in June and July 2023.

The school is an intensive and interdisciplinary training programme for current and recent UoN students of Black, Asian, or other racially minoritised backgrounds.

The pilot project aimed to give participants an opportunity to learn research methods, build professional networks, and receive support for applying to PhD places and scholarships.

With the support of Dr Maria Arruda, it was funded by the university’s Researcher Academy and led by Dr Neema Begum (Politics) in collaboration with Dr Hannah Thuraisingam Robbins (Music and Black Studies), Dr Pearl Agyakwa (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Dr Shardia Briscoe-Palmer (Sociology), and Dr Kyle Harrison (Medicine).

As well as showcasing a diverse range of experiences, progressions to academia and research interests, accommodation, meals and travel expenses were covered for all participants to minimise financial barriers to participation. 

Eleven students participated in the programme, which included a research showcase featuring interdisciplinary and decolonial approaches to geography, law, politics, and business from racially minoritised colleagues from around the country.

The team led workshops on research methods, race in science, researcher self-care, and citation politics.

We also enjoyed panels on community-led research, delivered by current students on UoN’s Black Studies PhD programme and on race and diversity in universities with international speakers including Mary Tupan-Wenno (ECHO Center for Diversity Policy), Dr Saran Stewart, Director of Global Education and Professor Frank Tuitt, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of the University of Connecticut.   

Talking about the Summer School, one of our student participants wrote “Building connections with researchers from around the world was an invaluable aspect of the programme, and I am grateful for the friendships and professional networks I formed during this time.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the Summer School was the opportunity to engage in inspiring discussions about race, science, politics, and power relations in research with distinguished professors, the ICAREforJustice community, and fellow participants.” 

Find out more about the university’s race equality commitments here.