Clive Sowah
Race & Ethnicity Unit Lead, Royal Society of Chemistry
The chemical sciences help tackle global issues like clean energy and healthcare, but systemic barriers have led to underrepresentation of people from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds in the field.
To combat the disparity, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) launched the Broadening Horizons in the Chemical Sciences programme in 2022, aiming to foster a more inclusive and diverse scientific community.
Shaping futures with industry insight
Backed by world-leading chemical companies and innovative British businesses, the scheme has already supported over 300 emerging talents in the chemical sciences. The success of its three-year pilot has seen a fourth edition commissioned, starting with a three-day taster event in mid-June. Participants explore life in chemistry through site visits to industry partners and receive one-to-one mentoring from professionals who share their own successful journeys, among other benefits.
This programme has saved a
very premature death of my
career and quite possibly, myself.
Journeys of community and discovery
For many of those who joined, the programme has already proven transformative. Carla Aldington was a second-year PhD student at the start of the first cohort — until Broadening Horizons opened her eyes to other opportunities.
“Broadening Horizons was a chance to learn what else was out there, and I came with the intention to really get the most that I could out of the programme,” says Aldington, now a Medical Sciences Analyst for Unilever. “I was very lucky to land one of the Broadening Horizons internships at Unilever in medical affairs. Since joining, it’s opened my eyes to a completely different world in industry.”
Building a community is another core element. Cohorts develop close bonds, sharing knowledge and experiences, helping each other overcome personal and professional obstacles. “This programme has saved a very premature death of my career and quite possibly, myself,” adds University of Southampton PhD student Johanna Fish. “It sounds a bit extreme, but anyone who has experienced discrimination will understand that this truly is how it can be, and I will forever be indebted to the RSC for their belief in all people.”
Chemistry is for everyone
Through Broadening Horizons, the RSC and its partners are actively tackling systemic barriers and giving underrepresented groups experiences that show chemistry really is for everyone.
For more success stories, read our Broadened Horizons booklet.
