The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences recently held the second annual Black Science Bootcamp, a transformative two-day residential programme for 30 Black year 10 pupils from Liverpool schools.
Funded by the Faculty’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity fund and Widening Participation, the event was led by Amal Abdulkadir and Dr Carl Larsen. The central theme of the bootcamp, "You can’t be what you can’t see," was reflected in the deliberate emphasis on representation, with most sessions being led by Black STEMM students, academics, or professionals.
The initiative was developed to inspire young Black individuals in Liverpool to consider higher education as a viable path. Its broader objective is to tackle prevalent issues faced by Black students in higher education, such as retention rates, the awarding gap, and progression into postgraduate studies and STEMM careers.
Some of the students who attended are from economically disadvantaged parts of Liverpool and have no siblings or parents who have attended university. The bootcamp served as a platform for students to interact with peers and role models who shared their own journeys as People of Colour in the scientific community. These personal accounts not only inspired the pupils but also highlighted the importance of diversity and representation in academia.
Students toured some of the Faculty’s research facilities including NMR, with PhD student Genna Ali Abdullah talking about her research and journey into higher education. Students visited the cancer research labs where PhD student Jayden Gittens talked about their research and showed them cancer cell lines in the specialist microscopy unit. Students also visited the Centre for Cell Imaging and saw demonstrations of the sector leading microscopes with Dr Marco Marcello. Finally, they visited GeneMill and watched a demonstration by Dr Enrique Salcedo-Sora on using robotics in cellular and molecular research.
Students took part in scientific experiments including electrophoresis and measuring physiological responses, with help from undergraduate students Kodie McDonald and Obimobi Onyeukwu-Onyenso. Alongside fellow students Sara Adam and Henri Okereke, Kodie and Obimobi also talked about their experiences in science and higher education. Pupils also heard from Ada Onyeukwu-Onyenso about what life is like as a sixth form student studying science.
In collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the students were given a tour of the Herpetarium and snake venom milking unit with Dr Edouard Crittenden and Senior Herpetologist Paul Rowley. They also toured the insectary where they learned about malarial research, visited the Dagnall laboratory to view a range of pathogens and parasites with Dr Greg Harper, and listened to cutting edge research and career talks.
As the bootcamp drew to a close, Amal and Carl expressed their gratitude to all the individuals who supported the event and their invaluable contributions that ensured its success. With the upcoming year 11 Black Science Bootcamp on the horizon, they are gearing up for another empowering experience, ready to continue their mission of fostering inclusivity and diversity in STEMM education and beyond.