Invitation to the seminar “Intersectionality in Research and Institutional Change”
On 23 October, at 9:30 a.m., a seminar titled Intersectionality in Research and Institutional Change will take place in Room 204 of the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Pharmacy Research Centre (Konsula iela 21). The seminar will be led by Victoria Showunmi, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Gender, Race and Identity at University College London (UCL).
The seminar offers a space for critical reflection and skill development on applying intersectionality in research and institutional change. Participants will explore the concept of intersectionality, analyse practical cases, and discuss approaches to integrating an intersectional perspective into their own work.
The seminar is open to researchers, doctoral students, administrative staff, and activists interested in promoting equality, diversity, and institutional transformation. Biomedical researchers and PhD students are especially encouraged to attend.
Programme
- 9:30–11:00 – Lecture on the concept of intersectionality and its analysis through the lenses of gender, class, and race
- 11:30–13:00 – Seminar with collaborative activities and discussions
About the lecturer
Prof. Victoria Showunmi is the Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Institute of Education and Chair of the Athena Swan Committee.
Her academic interests encompass gender, identity, and race through the prism of intersectionality, with a particular focus on leadership and the experiences of black women and girls. She develops new conceptual frameworks for examining issues of equality and social justice, with special attention to interpersonal dynamics and complex behavioural patterns that often lead to disengagement from equality initiatives.
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Victoria Showunmi is a professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Gender, Race and Identity at UCL. Prof. Showunmi is Vice Dean EDI and Chair of Athena Swan in the Faculty of the IOE. Her interests are gender, identity, and race through the lens of intersectionality, focusing on leadership and the lived experience of Black women and girls. She develops fresh conceptual frameworks focusing on equity and social justice, especially the interplay between people and the sophistication of behaviours which lead to disengagement with the promotion of equality. Her work shows how culture and cultural background have the potential to disrupt power structures and lead to transformational change. She has an international profile based on the dissemination of her research through publication and teaching and was the recipient of BERA’s inaugural Academic Citizen of the Year award in 2023. This new award was created to honour a member of the wider academic community who has gone above and beyond in supporting colleagues and contributing to the wider discipline. She is a member of the Gender and Education Executive, Past Chair of the British Educational Leadership Management and Administration Society, Chair of the International Studies Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Educational Research Association and co-convenor of the Gender Network of the European Educational Research Association.
The event is organised by the RSU Doctoral School and the RSU Social Sciences Research Centre to promote knowledge transfer and capacity building within the Horizon Europe project Inclusive Gender Equality in Biomedical Research and Higher Education (INCLUDE).
