STEMinism: The Equity in STEM Podcast

Data and allyship are powerful tools for driving equity in STEM. In this episode, Dr. Helen Pain shares her journey and explores how evidence can catalyze positive scientific change. Please visit our website to get more information: https://vantastem.com/ Dr. Pain discusses how allyship and representation can bridge equity gaps from her early days in chemistry to her leadership roles at the Royal...

Ever wondered what it takes to be a Black female CHRO in the pharmaceutical industry? Meet Tina St Leger, a trailblazer who has navigated the complexities of HR leadership at the highest levels. Please visit our website to get more information: https://vantastem.com/ In this episode, Tina shares her journey from studying chemistry to leading HR at top pharmaceutical companies. Along the way, she d...

Clive & Ali travel to the Blackett Laboratory @ Imperial College, to sit with Dr Mark Richards, one of the few Black physics lecturers in the country. Mark is an inventor, teacher, mentor and company founder, with vast industry experience from Atmospheric Physics to Finance. We discussed the reasons behind the apparent lack of Black scientists in the UK, which has been ongoing since Mark's day...

Ali & Clive are joined by Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London and Chief Scientific Officer at Nanomerics. Prof. Ijeoma has an incredible backstory of resilience and triumph, having grown up between post-war Nigeria and East London and headed to university at age 16. She is a notable scholar and holds a number of patents for drug deliver...

Ali & Clive return to their old stomping ground of Kingston University and meet with a prominent figure who directly influenced their own journey, namely Dr Baljit Thatti, Head of Department in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Having recently been awarded an impressive grant under the Royal Society of Chemistry's Missing Elements fund, Dr Bal's work takes her right to the heart of the the...

Clive and Ali are joined by Matt Green to discuss the evolution of the Rapping Science Teacher. We discuss Matt's foundations as an educator, the limitations of working in schools, starting a global tutoring business (with 80+ tutors) and the process of scaling up education to reach the masses by becoming a content creator. Specifically, on teaching the GCSE science curricula through the medium of...

Clive & Ali are joined by Stemettes CEO, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, for a riveting discussion around representation in Tech. We explore the foundations and countless contributions of women in Tech and Engineering, from Gladys West (GPS) to Hedy Lamarr (Wi-Fi), while exploring how power dynamics seek to prevent entry and progression to Black women. Despite there being gatekeepers, Anne-Marie demon...

Ali & Clive are joined by Petroleum & Chemical industry expert and Consultant Scientist, Albert Rwarasika. Albert migrated to the West, following the end of colonial rule and change in country from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. After fulfilling his childhood desire of “getting on a plane” he arrived in Czechoslovakia, which then underwent the fall of Communism via the Velvet Revolution, gaining in...

Ali & Clive sit down with Dr Kayisha Payne, a chemical engineer turned business consultant. In this episode, they explore the experience of being a Black woman in STEM and being skipped at the table, growing up in Kent where there were very few people who looked like her, the power of allyship, and the various routes one can take in industry with a Chemical Engineering (or related) degree. We...

Clive and Ali are joined by Professor Robert Mokaya OBE, lecturer in Materials Chemistry and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Nottingham. Robert is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, where he sits on the Board as a Trustee. We discuss Robert's life growing up in Kenya, the cultural shift in moving to the UK to study a PhD at Cambridge University and the signi...

Join Clive and Ali as they have candid conversations around race in STEM. In this episode, we discuss Vanta STEM's core values of "Equity" and "Mindset", and how these principles have guided our success. We discuss the reasons why equity is fundamental to our society's progression, and how to develop from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

In this compelling episode, Clive and Ali delve deep into the core values that drive their mission of enhancing representation for Black individuals in STEM fields. Join us as we unpack the power of 'Self', examining the pivotal role self-control, self-belief, self-love, self-discipline, and self-improvement play in shaping personal and professional growth. Additionally, we explore differe...

Ever experienced the sting of rejection or found yourself grappling with the challenge of reshaping your mindset? If so, this episode is made for you! Join Ali and Clive in a soulful conversation, as they delve into the #BlackLivesMatter call to action of 2020. Drawing from their personal journeys, they open up about navigating the hurdles of rejection within a fiercely competitive job market. Tun...

Much needed and long-awaited, we are thrilled to present STEM-inism: The Equity in STEM podcast.   This isn't just another podcast about identity politics! Instead, we delve into the genuine issues and explore the barriers hindering progression in STEM, with a particular focus on the impact of race. Equity is the key.   Join Clive and Ali as they candidly share their personal journey and illum...