We thought while working from home we would share some short blogs that introduce our research team. The Principal Investigator of DISC is Garry Pender, and he took a little time out to respond to a number of questions about why he wanted to be involved in this research.
- What interested you in doing research relating to disability? The world faces many pressing problems at the present time and is short of talented and motivated people able to think creatively and influence the necessary change. We must ensure that all real or perceived barriers to those who can contribute ideas and actions to address these problems are removed.
- What are your main concerns for the DISC project? My main concern is that it is addressing a huge topic with limited resource. It must therefore maintain focus on where it can deliver some degree of change and then scale up from there.
- What are your hopes for the DISC project? It delivers real change in the opportunities for talented academics with disabilities at Heriot-Watt University.
- How do you think the current pandemic will affect the DISC project? At a basic level the DISC project may well be delayed but that can be managed. There may also be new opportunities. I’m not a social scientist but I am seeing an increasing role for society and collective behaviour in minimising the impact of the pandemic on our friends and neighbours – there is something that the project could promote around the positive role that disabled people can have in such circumstances. Also, our transition to remote working and how relatively effective that has been may open up more opportunities for the recruitment of people with disabilities in future.
- If you could give one message to people about disability right now, what would it be? Use the time to contact others and build your professional network.