MPLS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awards 2025

Category 1: Best Initiative

For a successful activity or initiative aimed at increasing equality, diversity and inclusion in a department, group, or subject area.

Winner

Shian-Li Kelly-Williams

Shian-Li has created a novel database for undergraduate students (UG) in Biology to share resources based on EDI-related content. Shian-Li developed this database based on feedback she had collected; that most students still desired more inclusion of EDI-related content in Biology lectures (e.g., highlighting representations from scientists of different backgrounds). Shian-Li researched and added a variety of resources, from books like 'Bitch' by Lucy Cooke (a discussion on the lack of female-inclusive research in Biology, both for species and scientists) to blogs highlighting scientists from different backgrounds currently working in the Biology department and beyond. She formulated the database to be as accessible to students as possible.

When presented to other students and staff, it was remarked that this database is "an excellent resource", accompanied by comments like "I could feel my interest for my subject creeping back in". It being run by students for students is significant, too, as it facilitates a community connection that Shian-Li hopes to become widespread across the entire Biology department.

Overall, this database has allowed students to engage with EDI on the Biology course in a way that was not possible previously. Shian-Li hopes this database will grow until a student's first thought in response to hearing "EDI" is: "That includes me, too."

Explore the website here.

Category 2: Best Team Effort

To recognise effective collaboration between team members howsoever comprised (teams may be within a department or across departments) working together on an equality, diversity and inclusion related activity or initiative.

Winner

Rebecca Colquhoun and Hannah Sanderson

Rebecca and Hannah received multiple nominations from staff and students as the “indispensable, two-person team responsible for the impressively active LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group in the Earth Sciences department. Among the founding members of the group in 2021, they have led the group alongside their final year DPhil studies. They organise monthly meetings for the Group, along with lots of events throughout the year (including the MPLS annual Pride Picnic, events during LGBT+ History Month etc), as well as providing support and advice both for members of the Group and for the wider department. “Whilst it has been a difficult year for LGBTQ+ people (particularly trans people), Rebecca and Hannah have worked to keep queer people in department feeling positive.”

“Institutional change may be long, but institutional memory turns over quickly. Hannah and Rebecca are the reason why any incoming member to our Department enters a space where there has seemingly always been a robust LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group.”

Commended – Best Initiative and Best Team Effort

Ava Chan, along with Naiwen Xiao, Samuel Caton, Daniel Balaam, Moncef Slimani, Yixuan Zhu, Adam Al-Khalidi

This exciting imitative aims to promote diversity and reduce bias in the recruitment process. 81% of employers are aware that unconscious bias influences decision making, yet only 50% of them have some strategies in place to reduce bias. Existing solutions such as blind CV screening and skills-based tests are ineffective in reducing unconscious bias when the recruitment proceeds to the interview stage.

To solve this problem, Ava and a multidisciplinary team of student developers from Engineers Without Borders Oxford aim to build a software solution enabling blind video interviews, in which the same face and voice (that are gender and race-neutral) are applied to all interviewees. Interviewers are therefore unable to discriminate against candidates based on their gender, race, accent, age etc. This helps to reduce bias in the interview process while retaining non-verbal human interactions such as tone of voice, facial expressions and body language.

The team have developed prototypes of gender-neutral face and voice changers, with a next step to conduct a blind interview pilot study to investigate if generalization of face and voice across interviewees could effectively reduce bias. If their assumptions have been validated, this initiative has the potential to transform current recruitment practice, ensuring all candidates are evaluated objectively, not disadvantaged by bias or discrimination, and have equal access to opportunities.

Within Biology, Ava’s project has generated strong interest and enthusiasm among members of the EDI Committee. Her initiative has sparked discussions on bias, equity, and inclusive recruitment, making an impact well beyond the technical team. It stands as an inspiring example of student-led innovation with the potential to shift practices across institutions.

Category 3: Outstanding ED&I Champion – Staff

An award made to an academic, researcher or professional services member of staff who has shown outstanding dedication, sustained commitment, and effective leadership or impact in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

Winner

Sonia Antoranz Contera

"Sonia has been the department’s inaugural Associate Head for EDI since 2020. She is a relentless ambassador for EDI within the Department, the University and beyond, and has dedicated vast amounts of time and energy to this role.

Over the last few years, with Sonia’s oversight and support, EDI activities (and those related to positive culture) in the department have expanded significantly, including: creation/expansion of various networks and groups - OPGEN (Oxford Physics Gender Equality Network); the LGBTQ+ Network; the Challenges and Changes Reading Group; the Race Equality Task Force; and the launch of Physics Thrive (a group of volunteers across career stages and functions who offer informal mentoring and support), since superseded by the Departmental Mentoring Scheme. Sonia also chairs the Postdoc Liaison Committee which ensures that postdocs have a collective voice in the department. By its very nature, much of this work goes on behind the scenes without fanfare.

Sonia is a steadfast supporter of those who have been victims of bullying and harassment (including sexual harassment) and has championed the training and presence of Harassment Advisors in the department. The most notable single contribution, however, was her successful leadership of the department’s Athena Swan gold award application (awarded November 2024), which would not have been possible without her dedicated leadership and significant personal involvement. This award is particularly important as we are the first UK Physics department and the first department in Oxford’s MPLS Division to achieve this status (setting a precedent for others to follow)."

Commended

Jon Bath

We are delighted to recognise Jon for his role as an MPLS Mental Health First Aider, as “he has been an active and valued member of this community since it first launched in 2021.

Recently, there have been several instances where Jonathan has stepped into to provide Mental Health support to individuals needing assistance immediately, answering the requests for help from different departments with wonderful generosity of time and emotional capacity. Jonathan contributes thoughtfully and supportively to mental health support in the MPLS community on an individual, departmental and divisional scale.”

Category 4: Outstanding ED&I Champion – Student

An award made to a postgraduate or undergraduate student who has shown outstanding dedication, sustained commitment, and effective leadership or impact in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

Winner

Emma McMillian

"Emma McMillian exemplifies unwavering dedication, sustained commitment, and effective leadership in advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion in computer science. As a DPhil student working at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and computational cardiology, Emma deeply cares about creating technology that directly touches people’s lives. Alongside her research, she actively leads a wide range of outreach and ED&I initiatives across the University of Oxford. Emma is a Department Ambassador for the Oxford University Department of Computer Science, Researcher Role Model for Beyond Boundaries, and is the Vice President of Community Affairs at Reuben College.

She has delivered engaging talks to hundreds of school students across the UK, from Years 5 to 12, demystifying AI, championing diversity in tech, and encouraging applications to Oxford. Her ability to connect with young audiences and share her journey as a DPhil student has inspired many to see STEM as a space where they can belong. Emma also published an article “DPhil the Future: Passing down the passion” for the Department of Computer Science, reflecting on her mission to inspire the next generation of AI scientists.

Emma’s ED&I work is characterised by sustained effort, genuine passion, and tangible impact. Whether through school outreach, university advocacy, or representation initiatives, she consistently works to open doors for others.”

Winner

Oliver Thomas

“Ollie has demonstrated a sustained commitment to EDI. As secretary of Enable Science he has worked to improve the visibility of disabled scientists, helping to produce, and featuring in, their disabled scientist spotlight series of posters designed for schools. He has also published a column in Chemistry World discussing his own experience of disability and how important a sense of community and belonging is. He featured in the RSC taboos and tricky topics webinar series in an episode spotlighting mental health.  

Ollie also actively works to remove barriers which might result in people being or feeling excluded. He volunteers as a committee member on the RSC chemist’s community fund, funding initiatives to support EDI such as the RSC I&D fund and directly supporting those experiencing hardship. He volunteered with the RNIB to produce audio transcriptions of books as well as working for the university DAS supporting students with disabilities.

Ollie’s continued commitment to and passion for EDI led to him taking on the role of an EDI Fellow. In this role he sits on divisional and departmental EDI committees and contributes to a broad range of issues from support for victims of sexual harassment to organising departmental quizzes to help people de-stress. Ollie developed, organised, and hosted a Festival of Failure event, to highlight the impact of failure in our lives and how this may affect different people differently, as well as reflecting on how we might manage failure. Due to the success of this event two further festivals are planned for the next year.”

Commended

Rebecca Colquhoun

"Rebecca is a fierce defender of inclusivity in Earth Sciences, whether that be working on the Athena Swan plan, or raising issues of inclusivity on fieldtrips, or teaching. They have at some point in their postgrad sat on all committees in the department, from JCCG, to the EEDI Committee, to the Teaching Committee, raising the issues on behalf of postgraduates with confidence and determination to pursue an issue until it is resolved.

They always have time to make this department more inclusive, including creating the LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group, a safe space for all those in the department to find community and joy together. They also supported undergraduate students through teaching tutorials and demonstrating of fieldtrips. While not an EEDI act itself, being present in the undergrads lives means they have often been a go-to member of department that students have gone to for help. They have published work highlighting the inequalities in Earth Sciences including "An audit for action" (Colquhoun and Fernando, 2020), showing their dedication to EEDI over the years.

They are currently finishing up their PhD, and I know the department will miss them, but they have passed on the EEDI torch to many postgrads in the department. They have left an impression on all members of the department that will make them difficult to forget."