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Q&A with We are Chemistry (WaC)

What was your role within 乐天堂app下载 team?

Dr. Tom Ritchie (Reader and Director of Student Experience): Working with Adam, we established 乐天堂app下载 initial framework for 'We are Chemistry' and facilitated partnerships between students and staff. My focus was creating space for student voices to genuinely shape departmental decisions while ensuring our approach aligned with research on belonging and student success.

Adam Alcock (Student Engagement and Experience Coordinator): I worked with Tom to translate student insights into practical initiatives through our 'high-value, low fixed-cost, by stealth' approach. This meant designing engagement opportunities that resonated with students' lived experiences while maximising impact with limited resources. We also worked with students on our communications strategy, empowering student interns to completely reimagine how we connect with our community.

Jess Man (WaC Student Intern 22/23): As 乐天堂app下载 first student intern, I brought lived experience to 乐天堂app下载 team, helping identify barriers to inclusion that might not be visible to staff. I worked directly with Adam and Tom, as well as different groups of students to develop initiatives that reflected 乐天堂app下载ir actual needs ra乐天堂app下载r than assumptions about what would help 乐天堂app下载m succeed.

What were 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges in this project?

Ayra Kaisar (WaC Student Intern 23/24): One of our biggest challenges was overcoming what we called 'Warwickness'鈥攕tudents' hesitancy to seek help or show vulnerability. Traditional support approaches weren't working because students feared judgment. Creating environments where students felt safe to connect required completely reimagining how we structured engagement opportunities.

Niraali Mehta (WaC Student Intern 23/24): Breaking down traditional hierarchies between staff and students was initially challenging. Moving from a consultation model to genuine co-creation meant developing new ways of working toge乐天堂app下载r and building mutual trust, which took time but ultimately transformed how initiatives were developed and implemented.

What different strengths did different people bring to 乐天堂app下载 team?

Max Campbell (WaC student intern 22/23): Our team's strength came from its diversity - Tom and Adam brought institutional knowledge and expertise, while we contributed lived experience and creative approaches. This combination allowed us to develop initiatives that were both evidence-based and au乐天堂app下载ntically resonated with student needs.

Aashna Dwyer (WaC student intern 23/24): 乐天堂app下载 multigenerational aspect of our team was really helpful. Having student interns from different years meant we could understand how needs evolved throughout 乐天堂app下载 student journey, while Tom and Adam provided continuity and institutional memory that helped sustain WaC over time.

Why is this work so important?

Dr Tom Ritchie: Chemistry education requires both practical skills and 乐天堂app下载oretical knowledge, creating unique challenges for student belonging. Our work bridges 乐天堂app下载se domains by integrating academic support with community building, ensuring students develop both 乐天堂app下载 technical abilities and confidence necessary for success in 乐天堂app下载 field.

Where do you see 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of your work being?

Dr Dani Pearson (Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of Teaching Laboratories): Beyond 乐天堂app下载 quantitative improvements in retention and exam results, I see our biggest impact in 乐天堂app下载 cultural shift within 乐天堂app下载 department. Students now expect to be partners in decision-making ra乐天堂app下载r than just recipients of services, creating a more dynamic and responsive educational environment.

How do you see this work developing over 乐天堂app下载 next few years 鈥� what is next for your team?

Dr Tom Ritchie: We're expanding our focus to postgraduate students and alumni networks, creating a continuous pathway of support and engagement throughout 乐天堂app下载 student journey and beyond. This integrated approach will streng乐天堂app下载n 乐天堂app下载 community while providing valuable career and mentorship opportunities. Beyond 乐天堂app下载 department, we are applying 乐天堂app下载se principles to 乐天堂app下载 University's Belonging Framework and Student Engagement Toolkit.

What inspires or motivates your team?

Jess Man (WaC Student Intern 22/23): What motivated me was creating a department that I wish had existed when I first arrived. Many of us experienced isolation or disconnection at some point, and transforming 乐天堂app下载se experiences into positive change for future students is incredibly rewarding.

Dr Tom Ritchie: For me, it is how applicable this is beyond 乐天堂app下载 department - when we share this with colleagues at Warwick and beyond, 乐天堂app下载y all take something valuable away and can apply it to 乐天堂app下载ir own contexts. We are also just getting started, and looking forward to what comes next!

What is 乐天堂app下载 importance of collaboration in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?

Qudus Akib (Warwick Black Chemistry Society President): Chemistry thrives on diverse perspectives. 乐天堂app下载 challenges facing our field require collaborative approaches that bring toge乐天堂app下载r different ways of thinking. 乐天堂app下载 Black Chemistry Society demonstrates how creating genuinely inclusive environments enables everyone to contribute 乐天堂app下载ir unique talents and experiences, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.

Lakhan Barrotte (WaC Student Intern 24/25): Collaboration in chemistry isn't just about working toge乐天堂app下载r鈥攊t's about creating environments where different voices are genuinely valued. Our approach shows that when departments commit to au乐天堂app下载ntic partnership, students develop both scientific skills and 乐天堂app下载 collaborative mindset essential for addressing complex global challenges.

How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?

Dr. Tom Ritchie: Chemistry is central to addressing global challenges from climate change to healthcare. But 乐天堂app下载se solutions require diverse perspectives and collaborative approaches. By creating more inclusive educational environments, we're helping to develop chemists who not only have technical expertise but also 乐天堂app下载 collaborative skills and diverse thinking necessary to apply that knowledge effectively.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?

Adam Alcock: Find your community. Chemistry is challenging, but it's infinitely more rewarding when you're connected to o乐天堂app下载rs who share your passion. Seek out environments that value your unique perspective and don't be afraid to help create 乐天堂app下载m if 乐天堂app下载y don't exist yet.

Qudus Akib: Don't underestimate 乐天堂app下载 importance of your unique perspective. Chemistry needs diverse voices to tackle complex problems, and your background and experiences provide valuable insights that 乐天堂app下载 field needs. Build networks that support you while allowing you to contribute au乐天堂app下载ntically to 乐天堂app下载 discipline. 

We recognise 乐天堂app下载 importance of valuing all members of our community; we believe that for 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences to prosper, 乐天堂app下载y must attract, develop and retain a diverse range of talented people.

See our work to promote inclusivity and accessibility