RSC diversity programme numbers soar
3 Jul 2023
The Royal Society of Chemistry has recorded a 38% rise in the number of students on its programme to increase diversity in the chemical sciences.
A total of 130 students and graduates are participating on the Broadening Horizons programme in only its second year, increasing numbers by more than a third since it was piloted last year.
The programme offers would-be chemists mentoring, networking, and opportunities from partner companies that include some of the biggest names in the sector. Charles River Laboratories recently became the latest recruit, joining the likes of Nanomerics, RSSL, Syngenta, Unilever, GSK, Oxford Nanopore, AM Technology, AstraZeneca, Johnson Matthey, and BASF.
Dr Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “We launched the Broadening Horizons pilot last year to help enact the change that is needed to retain talented Black and minority ethnic chemists. The students and industry partners involved have told us just how valuable they found the programme, which makes us all the more determined to continue delivering an impactful experience for future cohorts.
“We’re excited to welcome the second cohort and are proud to have even more young people taking part this year as we continue this vital work to improve inclusion and diversity in our industry.”
Broadening Horizons was established by the RSC last year after its Missing Elements report cited found that talented Black chemists were more likely to leave the profession at every stage of their career path after undergraduate studies than their peers.
Feedback from the inaugural cohort of 94 participants indicates the programme has so far been hugely valuable in creating an inclusive environment, opening networking opportunities, and showcasing the range of different career paths available in the chemical sciences.
Imperial College London PhD student Carla Aldington, who secured an internship with Unilever, described the benefits: “The first day when we were all together was remarkable. I have never stood in a room with so many other people of colour who are also chemists. For the first time in my whole academic career, I realised I did belong in the world of chemistry. That is a feeling I will treasure forever.”
Johnson Matthey was among the original firms that provided mentorship opportunities for students. It has offered work placements for seven students upon completion of the programme.
Dr Liz Rowsell FRSC, Research and Development Director at Johnson Matthey, said: “While we’re still in the early stages of the pilot, Broadening Horizons has already proved to be a truly impactful programme. It’s been fantastic to meet all the students in the first cohort, discuss their experiences of studying chemistry, and give them some insight into what their future career might look like.”
GSK, another early recruit, hosted 25 students at its Stevenage site where they took part in speed networking, visited working labs, and attended panel discussions.
