Celebrations of Diversity

Angela Saini Q&A 2020

Angela Saini is a science journalist and the author of “Inferior” (the story of gender inequality in science) and, more recently, “Superior” which discusses how systemic racism pervades science, medicine, and academia. Angela kindly joined Liverpool universities for an online Q&A session to discuss race in academia.

Shakiba Oftadeh-Moghadam Webinar 2022

A one hour webinar hosted by students, for students; to demonstrate how you can inspire positive and meaningful change in your University. Shakiba Oftadeh-Moghadam is a PhD student from the University of Portsmouth and refugee from Iran who advocates for human rights. Through her own experiences, Shakiba conceptualised how students can be empowered to influence change and improve the collective learning, teaching and whole University experience for themselves and their peers.

Choose to Challenge Campaign 2021

Staff across the School of Sport and Exercise Science pledged their support for International Women’s Day 2021. Obipiseibima Priscillia Aggokabo, a PhD Student in Cardiac Physiology, reveals that one reason for choosing to study within Sport and Exercise Science was so she could narrow the, still prevalent, gender inequality gap:

“The world of sport exercise science is a very competitive field which can definitely be enhanced a lot further with equity and equality. Though a male dominated landscape, it presents lots of opportunities for women like myself to contribute to its development for improved healthcare and lifestyle. I personally intend to do as much as I can to minimise the gender gap and create equality in the field of Sport and Exercise Sciences (SES). The desire to make a contribution towards this was definitely a motivation for choosing SES as a learning path.”

Royal Society Partnership Grant

The Partnership Grants scheme from the Royal Society funds schools to run investigative STEM projects in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry.

13-year-olds from Liverpool's Holly Lodge Girls’ College want to investigate why fewer girls, when compared with boys, take part in PE and sport at a young age. By secondary school 23% of girls do not participate in any physical activity outside of school and by 14, girls are dropping out of sport at twice the rate of boys.

To try and examine this question the girls are teaming up with world-class sport and exercise scientists at LJMU to find out about PE research and how it can help all girls at their school and others.

Professor Sir James Hough FRS, Chair of the Royal Society Partnership Grants Allocating Panel said: This is an excellent project, looking at the relationship between physical fitness and health and the barriers to participation. As well as the engaging topic matter, it will, just as importantly, enable students to gain experience in data handling and statistical analysis providing a useful benchmark for other schools to follow".

Girls from Holly Lodge School visited LJMU in March 2022. Project aims were to encourage girls to pursue STEMM topics/careers, and provide role models in their own image.

Celebration of Male Contribution to the EDI Agenda

International Men’s Day celebrates the value men can bring to society and raises awareness of men’s health and wellbeing. Dr Tom O’Brien circulated an email to staff within the School to recognise the contributions of men to the EDI agenda and raise awareness of specific challenges men face.

Event in Support of International Men’s Day 2021

In celebration of International Men’s Day 2021, male students in the School of Sport and Exercise Science were invited to a relaxed event which focused on sport and physical activity as a means to enhance mood and meet new people to connect with.

International Day Of Persons with a Disability – Reflections from Past Students

Dr Milly Blundell writes an blog for the LJMU website to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The blog highlights the successes of some past students with disabilities who have completed their studies at LJMU and continued to flourish within the sport sector and beyond, whilst also being inspirational role models to current and prospective students.

Football v homophobia Event 2022

As part of LGBTQi+ history month, two Sport Development students (Ellie George and Ellie Roberts) from the School of Sport and Exercise Science organised an event as part of the month of action for the campaign ‘Football V Homophobia’.

Football V Homophobia is an international campaign, which takes place every February, to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression at all levels of football. The aim of the event was to raise awareness of homophobia/transphobia and the inclusion of the LGBT+ community in football and sport more broadly. The event consisted of an inclusive 5-aside football tournament, and educational talks from guest speakers Lou Englefield (Founder and Director of Pride Sports) and Professor Pete Millward.

Menopause Infographic

Staff from the School of Sport and Exercise Science created an accessible infographic in 2021 on the menopause, its effects in the workplace, and the research currently being undertaken in the department in relation to the menopause.