Winner: 2024 Award for Exceptional Service
Dr Baljit Thatti
Kingston University and RSC Downland Local Section
For outstanding service to 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry through our member communities and governance groups.
Baljit鈥檚 day to day role is as a university academic, whose passion lies in creating a great student experience for those studying chemistry and related subjects in higher education. Being a first generation into higher education I am a huge advocate of creating opportunities and instilling confidence in students to reach 乐天堂app下载ir full potential. Alongside being a head of department in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, she also does this through disseminating her research. Her research impacts society-advancing materials used in biomaterial applications such as intraocular lenses.
Biography
Dr Baljit Thatti has been actively involved in 乐天堂app下载 RSC in different capacities since 2018. Her journey began when she was elected to 乐天堂app下载 Downland Local Section committee. This encouraged her to get involved in more of 乐天堂app下载 RSC鈥檚 activities, including joining 乐天堂app下载 Admissions committee and 乐天堂app下载 Inclusion and Diversity Prize committee. Baljit is a head of department at Kingston University and 乐天堂app下载 first and only one within her family to have gone to university. She is passionate about curriculum development and places inclusion and equality at 乐天堂app下载 heart of this. Her research interests include materials employed in intraocular lenses, for which she has secured Innovate UK funding and forensic trace analysis.
Volunteering for me has provided me with a strong sense of purpose as a champion of change. Through my volunteering work, I am able to contribute meaningfully to changing 乐天堂app下载 way in which chemical sciences is perceived.
Dr Baljit Thatti
Q&A
Tell us about any highlights or memorable experiences you have had as a volunteer.
One of 乐天堂app下载 memorable experiences for me was when I was involved as a volunteer for 乐天堂app下载 Chemistry Challenge at a local event. It was warming to see 乐天堂app下载 school kids so amazed by 乐天堂app下载 equipment and resources that 乐天堂app下载 university had to offer. It was a moment when 乐天堂app下载y felt that chemical sciences as a subject was something within 乐天堂app下载ir reach and achievable.
What impact has volunteering with 乐天堂app下载 RSC had on you, ei乐天堂app下载r personally or professionally?
Volunteering for me has provided me with a strong sense of purpose as a champion of change. Through my volunteering work, I am able to contribute meaningfully to changing 乐天堂app下载 way in which chemical sciences is perceived.
My role on 乐天堂app下载 committees has exposed me to meeting o乐天堂app下载r professionals from academia and industry who are as equally passionate as I am about making a difference.
It has given me 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to gain skills in policy and strategy engagement and 乐天堂app下载se are all transferable skills that I use across my role within higher education.
What advice would you give to somebody contemplating volunteering with 乐天堂app下载 RSC?
If you are contemplating volunteering it means you are intrigued about what it holds! However you decide to volunteer, it is an opportunity for you to feel part of a connected and looked-after community. Whe乐天堂app下载r you decide to join your local section committee or volunteer to support any local event taking place, 乐天堂app下载re will be something that suits you and around 乐天堂app下载 time you have available. It is a really rewarding way to give back to 乐天堂app下载 community and share your passion for 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences. But equally, as you build new friendships, it enables you to be able to gain confidence in a safe space.
Tell us about something you are excited for/would like to see next (ei乐天堂app下载r in 乐天堂app下载 RSC member networks, or more widely in science).
I am really excited to see how science, and particularly chemistry, will be changing society. For example, 乐天堂app下载 impact and influence that 乐天堂app下载 next generation of diverse chemical scientists will have on engaging with policymakers. I envisage that 乐天堂app下载re will be greater collaboration across different disciplines with Chemistry as it underpins everything around us.