Making Science more inclusive
Just 26% of the overall UK STEM workforce are female.
The proportion of academics known to have a disability is just 6.4%.
0% of chemistry professors are black.
Kent's community isn't just contributing to society's understanding of why these inequalities exist, but taking action to eliminate them. Here's how.
Assessing accessibility in our labs
We are working with other universities in the Eastern Arc consortium to assess how accessible our laboratories are for those with disabilities.
Supporting women in supramolecular chemistry
The Women in Supramolecular Chemistry (WISC) Network, founded by Professor Jennifer Hiscock, aims to increase the proportion of women working in the global supramolecular chemistry community post-PhD.
Closing the skills gap between school and university
Dr Emma Hargreaves and Dr Alexandra Moores, both Senior Lecturers in Microbiology, are supporting students’ transition to university and enhancing numeracy skills through targeted interventions.
Tackling racial and ethnic inequalities in the chemical sciences
Kent is leading one of 10 projects funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry which are looking at the racial and cultural barriers that currently affect the academic landscape.
Using reflective practice to support the next generation of bioscientists
Bioenterologist, Dr Jennifer Tullet, has worked with Dr Jennifer Leigh to develop a programme which uses reflective practice to help postgraduate students navigate the challenges unique to them.
The Bestway Scholarship: supporting aspiring scientists from Pakistan
What does it take to be a changemaker?
Ask Dr Jennifer Leigh
Dr Leigh is not your typical academic. In 2024, she was named on the Shaw Trust's Disability Power 100 and has since been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's 2025 Inclusion and Diversity Prize. Her work on ableism in academia has been featured in Nature and her research with the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks and recommendations around accessible labs based on lived experiences of disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent scientists has contributed to new laboratory building design, an All-Party Parliamentary Committee, and policy from the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Advice on making environments inclusive for
Disabled people in science
As co-lead for the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN) STEMM Action Group, Dr Jennifer Leigh has contributed to a paper highlighting the benefits of an inclusive STEMM environment and provides short, medium, and long-term recommendations on how organisations and funders can address systemic ableism in STEMM.
Providing guidance to increase support for
First-generation scientists
PhD student, Mariam Yacoub, has been researching the impact of being the first person in the family to study a science, technology, engineering, maths or medicine (STEMM) degree at University. With support from supervisors Dr Jennifer Leigh and Professor Jennifer Hiscock, she has published a paper in Chemical Science exploring what academic mentors, networks and Institutions can do to support equal access to the guidance, resources, supportive networks and mentors needed that can help these students succeed.
Closing the gender gap
The Women's Researcher Network
Bringing together and creating a supportive network of women in the early stages of their academic careers.
Womxn in STEM
A society dedicated to breaking barriers and fostering empowerment, diversity and inclusivity in the progressive world of STEM.
Athena SWAN
Kent has joined and is committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN Charter and in 2021 achieved its Silver Institutional Award.