Category: ECR Networks

Able network for disabled staff, research postgrads and allies

Able is a disability network that creates a supportive community for disabled staff, postgraduate research students and allies. The network welcomes those who live with a disability and/or physical or mental health condition, whether life-long, newly acquired, self-identified or diagnosed, regardless of whether they identify as disabled or not. They also encourage allies who are supportive of disability equality and equity in the workplace.

Each Friday morning at 9.00am the group meets for a virtual coffee and chat, where members can discuss topics relating to disability, share their lived experiences and become part of a community.

Find out more about the Able network and sign up by completing the online form.

Seeking new members to join Imperial’s Athena Swan SAT – an opportunity for you to help shape Imperial’s gender equality work

Seeking new members to join Imperial’s Athena Swan SAT – an opportunity for you to help shape Imperial’s gender equality work

Imperial’s Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT) is responsible for discussing gender equality issues and keeping track of progress on our Action Plan. The SAT helps to represent the different areas and groups across the university and lived experiences. As a member, you would be expected to contribute to discussions and provide a ‘voice’ for the postdoc / fellow community and your department.

Meetings of the SAT take place roughly every month for 90 minutes – usually on Teams. Though we will try to hold perhaps two meetings a year in-person, based on previous feedback from the SAT. We recognise the difficulties of scheduling and availability, and accept that SAT members may not be able to attend every meeting.

Starting this spring / summer, the focus of the SAT will begin to switch to a full self-assessment process to prepare for Imperial’s Athena application in July 2027. Joining the SAT is an opportunity to help influence Imperial’s future gender equality work and action plan. We are planning to create additional sub groups for the SAT, to focus on particular areas (for example culture, career development, etc). We are still thinking about how best these will work, trying to take lessons from last submission and the current work of the Race Equality Charter SAT (submitting this year).

Please contact Robert Bell should you be interested in joining the group

robert.bell@imperial.ac.uk

Join a new PhD Participatory Research Network!

A group of PhD students has set up a PhD Participatory Research Network (funded by LISS-DTP) to connect PhD students interested in participatory methods – approaches where people with lived experience are active partners in shaping all stages of the research process. Each month, we’ll meet to explore a different theme through interactive workshops, peer discussions, and guest speakers. Together, we’ll build a collective toolkit of resources and guidance by PhD students, for PhD students.

Our first session will be held at REACH Space, 3rd Floor, Surrey Street East Wing, Strand Campus, King’s College London, on Wednesday 5th November, 2pm-4pm. Our network is open to all PhD students from King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London, and Imperial College London. If you are based elsewhere but would like to join, please email Emma (e.hayashibara@qmul.ac.uk). As spaces are limited, please register your interest via Eventbrite to secure your place. If you can no longer attend, kindly cancel your registration so that someone else can take your spot.

For any questions about the network, feel free to contact Emma (e.hayashibara@qmul.ac.uk).

Help Us Build the Student Parent and Carers Network at Imperial!

Are you a parent, an expectant parent, or a carer navigating student life at Imperial?

We understand that balancing academic life with parenting or caregiving responsibilities can be both incredibly rewarding and uniquely challenging. That’s why we’re building a stronger, more supportive Student Parent and Carers Network, and we invite you to be part of it.

Our first crucial step is to find out more about the experiences and needs of Imperial student parents and carers. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by clicking here: Imperial Student Parent and Carers survey

This network is designed to offer:

✅ Peer Support: Connect with fellow student parents and carers who understand your experience.

✅ Dedicated Events: Family-friendly, care-friendly and flexible networking opportunities, support sessions, and socials.

✅ Advocacy & Voice: Help shape how Imperial supports students like you.

✅ Resources & Guidance: Clear, accessible information on everything from parental or emergency leave, advice on childcare, wellbeing, and flexible study options.

Whether you’re currently parenting, expecting a child, supporting a partner who is, or caring for a family member or friend, you are welcome here.

How to Join:

Simply complete the survey above and join at the end, or reply to this email with your details and we will add you to the Network.

If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at, studentparentsandcarers@imperial.ac.uk