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Disability, social mobility and issues faced by LGBTQ+ people in STEM examined by MPs

21 April 2022

The Science and Technology Committee will question Michaela Community School Headmistress and Chair of the Social Mobility Commission Katharine Birbalsingh on the link between diversity and inclusion in STEM and social mobility in the third session of its inquiry.

Purpose of the session

The session will also focus on the specific challenges faced by people with disabilities as well as LGBTQ+ people in STEM and returners. MPs will explore why these groups are underrepresented in STEM roles and examine the possible solutions across education, academia and industry.

Witnesses

Wednesday 27 April 2022

Panel One (at 9.30am)

  • Dr Gayle Brewer, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Liverpool, and representative, National Association of Disabled Staff Networks; 
  • Dr Jasleen Jolly, Associate Professor in Vision and Eye Research, Anglia Ruskin University and representative, National Association of Disabled Staff Networks; and  
  • Katherine Sparkes, Chief Executive, Lightyear Foundation.

Panel Two (at approx. 10.15am)

  • Katharine Birbalsingh CBE, Headmistress, Michaela Community School, Wembley and Chair, Social Mobility Commission

Panel Three (at approx. 11.00am)

  • Dr Izzy Jayasinghe, senior lecturer and UKRI Future Leader Fellow, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, and representative of LGBTQ+ STEM; and    
  • Dr Katie Perry, Chief Executive, Daphne Jackson Trust

Further information

Image: Pixabay