Research News Last updated 19 October
Staff and students from Birmingham City University (BCU) have been celebrating Black History Month through a research symposium, highlighting academic, personal and learning achievements across the University.
Hosted by the Global Majority Staff Network (GMSN) with support from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, the event took place on Wednesday 14 October, with this year’s theme of ‘honouring our communities’.
The event featured speakers from across BCU’s research community, who shared their personal journeys, professional experiences and research interests, highlighting the importance of representation, belonging and collaboration.
The GMSN launched in 2025 to empower voices, build community and provide dedicated spaces for staff to connect, share experiences and support one another.
Dr Shahreen Bashir, Senior Research Development Manager and GMSN steering group lead, said: “Since introducing the GMSN, we’ve worked hard to provide inclusive spaces which showcase all the different voices we have at the institution.
“This Black History Month event is a great example of how we can bring staff and students together to connect, inspire others to advocate for their own professional development and create a space where everyone feels they belong at BCU. It was a truly inspirational day”.
The programme opened with a keynote from Professor Abdullahi Ahmed, Head of Engineering, exploring a human-centred journey towards net zero. BCU alumna Clair Graham, Head of Partnerships at Birmingham Children’s Trust, followed with a poem reflecting on the hardships she has faced and ‘the child within her’.
Finding your voice, building community and overcoming barriers were the themes that ran throughout the talks. Dezita Taylor, Associate Professor of Nursing and Midwifery, explored the importance of deserving a ‘seat at the table’, Leon Skerritt, Lecturer in Criminology, highlighted the value of community building, while Chantelle Waite, Senior Lecturer and FdSc Nursing Associate, reflected on how resistance can shape strong leaders.
Personal experiences of research and academia were also at the heart of the programme. Dr Olusegun Llori, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, shared his journey into academia and research and Professor Kwabena Duedu, Professor of Global Health Microbiology, explored how identity, culture and faith can help create opportunities to make a difference.
Looking to the future, three nursing students - Francesca Samere, Naomi Nutassey and Princilla Amoh - shared written reflections on their hopes for the people they want to become and the importance of building their own support network.
Professor Jenny Harding, Director of Research, said, “This research symposium marking Black History Month has been a fantastic tribute to the excellent achievements of academic colleagues and PGRs. It was great to hear research talks and success stories from across the university."
“Events like this create opportunities for us to work collaboratively, learn from each other’s lived experiences and celebrate the success of our colleagues making a great impact in their communities and beyond”, said Dr Ayazullah Safi, Senior Lecturer, Research Cluster Lead and GMSN steering group founder and chair.
“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who attended and the wider GMSN team, including Halima Khan, Nahid Younis, and Lesley Handyside, who dedicated their time and energy into creating such a fantastic day.”
To find out more about the Global Majority Staff Network at BCU, click here.