Disability Inclusive Science Careers is an interdisciplinary series of projects funded by the EPSRC (DISC), and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Award (DICE), NERC (EnDISC) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (creating accessible laboratories for those with hidden impairments) across Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh University, which aims to improve the inclusion of disabled people in STEM careers. We work in collaboration with UCU Scotland and the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks.

Heriot-Watt team

The current DISC team is:

Professor Kate Sang leads the programme of work. She is a professor of Gender and Employment Studies. Her previous research has focused on how women and disabled people navigate highly skilled employment.

Professor James Richards is a co-investigator on the EPSRC DISC, The UKRI, with support from the British Academy, funded EDI Caucus and DICE projects. He is a Professor in Employment Relations. His current and recent research focuses on in-work poverty, trade unions as facilitators for disabled people and employee use of the internet/social media.

Dr Graeme Barker is a co-investigator on DICE. Graeme is an Associate Professor in the Engineering and Physical Sciences school at Heriot Watt University.

Ms Beth Wedgwood is the Research Assistant on DICE, having previously worked as a research assistant on the EDI Caucus

Ms Fenella Watson is the Project Manager for DICE and the senior project support office for the EDI Caucus

Former DISC colleagues:

Dr Jen Remnant was the post-doctoral researcher for DISC and is a Co-Investigator for the Royal Society of Chemistry project, and is now working at the University of Strathclyde. Her research focuses on ill-health and disability in relation to paid work.

Olugbenga Abraham Babajide is a PhD candidate and was a research associate working on the DISC project. His research will evaluate the outputs of the DISC project.

Professor Gareth Pender was the principal investigator for the EPSRC DISC project, was the Deputy Principal for Research and Innovation at Heriot-Watt University. He has now retired.

Dr Cat Morgan was the PDRA on the NERC funded project EnDISC, and is now working full time on the EDI Caucus.

Dr Lena Wanggren was the PDRA on the NERC funded project EnDISC

The EnDisc project also included Ms Fenella Watson, Dr David Woolf, Dr Clayton Magill and Professor Teresa Fernandes.

The Royal Society of Chemistry project included Dr Graeme Barker as Co-Investigator and Vickie Williams as the research assistant.

Edinburgh team

Dr Sara Shinton is a researcher developer, with a particular interest in inclusive research cultures.

Dr Frédéric Bosché is a Senior Lecturer. He leads the CyberBuild Lab through which he delivers research and consultancy projects in the development and use of virtual and mixed reality technology, to support collaborative and engaging design, construction and engineering works, as well as training.