In this blog post, we highlight some of the groundbreaking discoveries Black academics have made that have significantly advanced our understanding and capabilities in numerous areas.
Black History Month is a time to honour and celebrate the rich contributions of Black individuals to various fields, including innovation and research.
The theme for this Black History Month 2024 is Reclaiming Narratives and for us in Research, Business and Innovation that means celebrating Black heritage, culture and doing our best to highlight Black contributions to the world of research and innovation.
Research at UWE by Black Researchers
Below is an introduction to just some of our fantastic Black researchers based at the university:
Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor is a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management, based within the Bristol Business School. Her research focusses on the relationship between HRM and organizational resilience, exploring key areas such as Talent Management, Employee Engagement and Well-being, Leadership and Change Management, Crisis Management and Response, and Strategic HRM Alignment. Tinkuma is currently working on a project titled “A Gender-role Perspective of Employee Well-being and Resilience,” funded by the VC Early Career Researcher Development Awards.
Dr Rachael Ununuma Chidugu-Ogborigbo is a Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences in the School of Applied Sciences. Rachael’s research focuses on the biological effects of environmental contaminants at the molecular level, known as ecogenotoxicology. Rachael’s current projects include the exploration of novel extremozymes from marine sponges for application in Biotechnology; cloning of CYP1-like and CYP3-like genes in Sea sponges as potential biomarkers of organic pollutants; and assessment of organic pollutants in environmental matrixes from the Niger Delta.
Dr Amina Hamoud is a Lecturer in Systems Engineering, based within the School of Engineering. Her research interests include modelling and simulation for connected and autonomous vehicles systems and their verification and validation. Alongside her research and teaching duties, Amina is a keen volunteer and STEM Ambassador, providing mentorship to students from diverse backgrounds. She is a member of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) and a member of the Women in Engineering Society. Last year, Amina was named as one of the top 50 Women in Engineering by the Women’s Engineering Society, a testament to her research as well as her advocacy work for black and ethnic minority groups.
Professor Shawn-Naphtali Sobers is Professor of Cultural Interdisciplinary Practice in CATE’s School of Arts. Shawn’s research has spanned a wide range of diverse topics, from the use of youth media in informal education, through to using media as an ethnographic research tool exploring subjects such as the legacy of the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved African people, through to disability issues and walking. His recent book ‘Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House’, published by Routledge (2023), explores British Black history through looking at the stories of objects found in Black British homes. His recent research, funded by the AHRC, explores the intra-cultural, religious, and political relationships between Britain, Ethiopia, and the Caribbean. This year, Shawn was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Arts University Bournemouth, in recognition of his unique contribution to the field of filmmaking, photography and writing.
Professor Emmanuel Adukwu is Professor of Applied Microbiology and Deputy Head of the School of Applied Sciences. His research focuses on strategies to reduce the burden of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, employing a range of experimental and public health approaches. In recognition of his outstanding teaching, Emmanuel was awarded the Royal Society of Biology Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year in 2023. He was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the society’s highest grade of membership, acknowledging his notable contributions to the advancement of biological sciences. Beyond his research, Emmanuel is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within academia. He was previously nominated for a National Diversity Award, included in the Bristol BME 100, and continues to Chair the Africa Staff Network at UWE Bristol and an active member of the BME forum.
Contributions of Black British Academics
Black academics across the UK have made significant contributions and visionary achievements to various fields, often overcoming systemic barriers to achieve ground-breaking discoveries.
Here are a few notable examples:
Professor Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu: A pioneering nurse and geneticist, Dame Nneka Anionwu made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of sickle cell disease and became the first UK sickle cell nurse specialist. Anionwu received a Damehood in 2017 for her services to nursing and the NHS.
Dr Mark Richards: A physicist at Imperial College London, Dr Richards’ research focuses on using optics and spectroscopy for trace-gas quantification. He is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and has dedicated his career to inspiring young people into physics through his science education, outreach, and public engagement activities. To support this, Dr Richards developed The Blackett Lab Family, a UK-wide network for Black physicists aiming to diversify perceptions of physics and promote Black representation at all levels in the field. These contributions have resulted in Dr Richards receiving the Institute of Physics’ Honorary Fellowship for his “inspiring contributions, advocacy and commitment to increasing equity in physics”.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: A space scientist and science communicator, Dr Aderin-Pocock has worked on numerous projects, including the development of instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope. She is also known for her efforts to inspire young people, particularly girls and those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in science. On the topic of racism, Dr Aderin-Pocock has said “I always think that when we acknowledge our biases, we grow… and become better people. It’s also important to show that we aren’t trying to pull others down. Rather, it’s about trying to make a level playing field for everyone.”
Professor Robert Mokaya: Professor Mokaya’s research focuses on porous carbons as sustainable energy materials. His work has significant implications for the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Furthermore, his achievements have been pivotal in developing chemistry in Africa and in the Black community in the UK. At present, Professor Mokaya is the only Black Professor of Chemistry in the country. He has recently been elected as the future president of the Royal Society of Chemistry and will enter the role in 2026.
These pioneers, among many others, have made invaluable contributions to their respective fields. Their work continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of researchers in the UK and further afield.
100 Black Women Professors NOW
The 100 Black Women Professors NOW initiative is a pioneering program aimed at increasing the number of Black women in the academic pipeline. Launched by the Women’s Higher Education Network (WHEN), this program addresses the significant underrepresentation of Black women in academia by providing career coaching, sponsorship, mentoring, and community building.
The programme is about supporting Black academic women to navigate and manage their careers; and it is also about challenging institutional assumptions and bias, recognising the need to address fundamental societal inequities, and acting to achieve systemic change for a fairer world. For this programme to work, a deep commitment is required from institutional leaders, line managers, and the academic cohort.
In 2018, there were 25 Black women professors in the UK, compared to 12,500 white men. As of April 2024, the number of Black women professors in the UK has increased to 66. While this is encouraging progress, Black women professors still represent the smallest group numerically among all professors, demonstrating that there is still a long way to go to achieve greater representation and equity in academia.
RBI’s Support for 100 Black Women Professors NOW
UWE Bristol is one of only eight universities actively participating in the 100 Black Women Professors NOW initiative, with active support from UWE’s Research, Business, and Innovation (RBI) department.
RBI is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that supports the career progression of Black women academics and is in close contact with the cohort identifying areas for development and support tailored to their needs. A mentor is assigned to each cohort member to support their research ambitions, offering guidance and practical support with bidding. A knowledge sharing programme has also been developed, with RBI colleagues attending cohort meetings to present on their roles and areas of expertise.