The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences co-hosted a unique event merging arts and science for Black History Month at The Tung Auditorium.
Working in partnership with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the ‘Bioethics of Being Black in Science and Medicine’ event featured musical and spoken word performances followed by a panel discussion of experts from, University of Liverpool, LSTM, and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The evening began with a fantastic performance by Yok'elengi – a traditional African band from the Democratic Republic of Congo led by Felix Ngindu. This was followed by a commissioned spoken word performance by multi-nominated actor, singer and writer, Aminita Francis about Henrietta Lacks – a Black American woman whose cancerous cells were taken without her consent in 1951 and have since been used in significant scientific breakthroughs.
The panel discussion delved into some of the ethical issues that Lacks’ story presents, as well as other examples of racial discrimination and abuse within scientific fields. Discussions also looked at the lasting disparities in health outcomes, and underrepresentation in STEM fields, highlighting the urgent need for equity and reform in the scientific community.
The panel included Dr Elena Teodora Manea Hauskeller, a philosopher and medical ethicist based in the University's Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences. Dr Manea provided an understanding of bioethics and addressed the question ‘why do we need a Black Bioethics?’
Dr Oluwaseun Esan, a public health research fellow based in the University’s Institute of Population Health, discussed the importance of a long history of inequities in Black maternal health in England and discussed the major factors that contribute to Black women having worse outcomes in pregnancy.
Event organisers, Dr Carl Larsen and Amal Abdulkadir, Race Equality Representatives in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: “It was very challenging and somewhat risky to stage such an ambitious event that attempted to merge the arts with science in the way we did. But we are delighted we took those risks.
“Feedback from attendees has been unanimously positive and after hearing about our race equity work and attending the event many attendees reported viewing our University in a very positive way.”
“We were delighted to see such a diverse audience and our event clearly engaged students, staff and the Liverpool community in a meaningful way with regard to discussing health inequalities and how to overcome barriers to engaging in STEM for Black people. "
“The evening built on our collaborative efforts with the LSTM towards achieving race equity within our respective institutions. 142 people were in attendance, raising £380 for charity.”
Profits from the event will be donated to a local charity, Mary Seacole House, a multicultural mental health resource service for adults primarily from BAME communities in Liverpool, and to the London based, Generating Genius, which has been working for over 15 years to ensure that talented and able students from disadvantaged backgrounds are positioned to excel in STEM careers.