Warwick Black Chemistry Society
Warwick Black Chemistry Society
Welcome
Hello, thank you for visiting the Warwick Black Chemistry Society (WBCS) webpage. My name is Maria Kariuki and I am the founder. Having been the only or one of the few black people for the majority of my STEM academic journey, I felt that it was important to start a society for students with similar experiences. In 2019, the RSCLink opens in a new window reported less than 5% Chemistry undergraduates were black and that figure decreased significantly as you went up the academic chain. It's a very isolating reality that not only affects us mentally but also academically ( NUS report) which is why establishing this society was important so that black students like myself have a place to find people to relate to on a personal and academic level.
So if you're a black student looking for a community that values and supports you or if you're an ally wanting to help our black students feel more included, please get in touch at wbcs@warwick.ac.uk or use the link on this website to join the society. I'm excited to meet you all and I truly believe that together we can make a difference beyond this department.
Maria Kariuki
Founder of the Warwick Black Chemistry Society
Why we're created the society
The Warwick Black Chemistry Society is a student led initiative that has been set up to provide a community based platform for black Chemistry students to socially interact with each other as well as foster meaningful relationships and networking opportunities. The society will also serve as a safe space for our black students to discuss their day to day experiences or challenges and ensure their opinions are sufficiently amplified within the department.
What we hope to achieve
Our principal goal is to create an inclusive, safe space to help narrow feelings of disconnect and underrepresentation amongst our black students. We aim to do so by organising different events and platforms that elevate their academic, career and social status. Once further established, we will also like to work with the Department of Chemistry to implement proactive actions that resolve barriers faced by students from black ethnic backgrounds. Another goal we hope to achieve, is to increase black representation at all levels within the department through mentorship initiatives.
Who can join?
The society is free and open to all black students in Chemistry, studying at any level (UG,PGT,PGR). We also welcome anyone (both student and staff) who would like to support our black students and society initiatives. Please use the link below to express your interest to join or contact: wbcs@warwick.ac.uk
Meet the team
Marie-Reine Fotso
MChem Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
Tabitha Sowande
MChem Chemistry (with Industrial Placement)
Georgeanne Aidoo
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry