EDA reaffirms its support for EDI in engineering

As part of the University’s commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusivity in STEM, the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) has invited several prominent engineers to talk about how the discipline will benefit from its ongoing support of these values.

EDA has long been committed to the fundamental principles of diversity, equality and inclusivity and is currently running a project that aims to promote and develop a series of activities which encourage diversity, participation and confidence amongst minority groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

As part of this project, it has invited:

On 16 November at 6pm, Dr Mark McBride-Wright, British engineer, co-founder and chair of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex) network group InterEngineering , to talk about empowering LGBT engineers and LGBT inclusion in the engineering sector. He will also outline the role the academic community can play in helping create an inclusive engineering working environment; and
On 23 November at 1pm, Dr Nike Folayan, Chair of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers , will talk about encouraging young people to transition from education into engineering, particularly those from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background.

These lectures, which are free and open to students, staff and members of the public, will take place in EDA’s Jennison Lecture Theatre at the University’s Canterbury campus. For tickets, please visit the website .

Kent was one of only 27 English universities to have recently received a £5 million award from the government to support a national increase in high-quality STEM students. It has also committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN charter, which was first implemented to advance the representation of women in STEM.