Equality & Diversity Scholarships 2020/21 Awarded

Three ‘Equality & Diversity Scholarships’ have been awarded to exceptional Bangor University 2020 graduates – Georgina Sidley-Brooks, Olaitan Olawande and Abi Cousins. The scholarships, which cover the full course fees, will enable the talented and enthusiastic students to continue their studies and the recipients of these scholarships are now enrolled in postgraduate courses at Bangor.

Georgina Sidley-Brooks, 21, from Moelfre, Anglesey, is studying for an MSc in Applied Innovation Design in the School of Education & Human Development, and said: “I am thrilled and very grateful to have been awarded the Equality and Diversity Scholarship. The scholarship will help me progress my chosen career within industrial design. The Industrial design industry is dominated by men, with women only making up approximately 5% of the workforce. Furthermore, women are very rarely represented in managerial positions. I am determined to pursue my career, to drive change in the industry and to be at the very top of a business.”

Olaitan Olawande , 21, from London, is studying for an MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis in the School of Psychology. Olaitan said: “Equality and Diversity is important to me as a woman from the BAME community.  There is a serious lack of people who look like me within Psychology and therefore it didn't seem like a field I was 'allowed' into or 'fit for'. It is also important to have people who look like you and who understand your cultural and racial background when it comes to developing a better understanding of environments that affect our mental health. This scholarship has been a huge help and has allowed to focus on my studies. Due to COVID I was unable to work over the summer. I thought that I would have to take a year out and work in order to study my masters but with the help from this scholarship I was able to continue my studies.”

Abi Cousins, 21, from Hertfordshire is studying for an MScRes in Biological Science in the School of Natural Sciences and said: " I am honoured to be awarded the Equality and Diversity Scholarship. I believe this scholarship will open up many doors, allowing me to focus on my future prospects in the industry. As the Royal Society of Biology have said, we need more women in decision making roles in Biological Science and I would love to be a part of that becoming a reality in my career. It is so important to encourage equality and diversity within our fields and I’m very grateful for the support from the University’s Athena SWAN group."

Bangor University is a member of the Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and as such committed to gender equality and diversity, and to creating and promoting an inclusive culture for staff and students at all levels.  The University’s Equality & Diversity scholarships are to support graduating students in continuing their studies at Bangor - particularly in areas where there is an underrepresentation of certain groups at postgraduate level, and/or a loss of women across the career pipeline. 

Professor Morag McDonald, Dean of College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and chair of the University’s Athena SWAN Group, said: 

“I am delighted that we have awarded these scholarships to three outstanding young female students. Providing a supportive environment for students like Abi, Olaitan and Georgina who are at the beginning of their careers is crucial. The Equality & Diversity scholarships are a great initiative and are open to all Bangor Undergraduates wishing to continue their studies at Bangor. We would encourage all prospective postgraduate students to look out for these opportunities and all staff to promote them to students, so that we can continue to work together to support our inclusive community at Bangor University.”

Publication date: 7 November 2020