Disabilities

We promote positive attitudes to those with disability and strive to reduce any stigma around mental health issues. 

Beacon activities

• Publications: members of the school have published thought-provoking articles
  
  • Academics must balance privacy and honesty to become great role models (Nature Careers Column, Hooker 2020)

Neurodiversity

After meeting at a Royal Society of Biology: Biosciences for All event (2018), BEDI PhD student rep Jessica Haghkerdar invited Prof Sara Rankin to tell us more about neurodiversity and her project “2emPower” (lecture available here). Rankin, a world-leading scientist at Imperial College London, is dyslexic and dyspraxic. 

Mental health

In 2021, the EDI committee hosted (virtually) Prof. Carron Shankland from the University of Stirling, who shared some of her insights on “Being Productive and Staying Well” (which can be accessed by staff/students in St Andrews). 

Accessibility 

Within the School of Biology, we try to ensure accessibility for all for lectures and events we organise: 

“I wanted to thank you very much for efforts to provide recordings or streaming of EDI-related events. My disability makes sitting still, particularly in theatre-style venues, one of the most difficult things to do.”  Female senior lecturer, 2019.

Students

The University provides a range of advice and support services for students with disabilities, and the School’s Disabilities Coordinator is available for additional advice.

Staff

The University has a newly established Staff Disability Network.  For staff with additional or recent diagnoses, HR and Occupational Health would be the first port of call for support or advice.  Organisational and Staff Development Services (OSDS) have a range of support available for researcher development. 

Further resources

EmployAbility is an external organisation that supports disabled students and graduates to access employment and also provides excellent support and advice.