Explorers Conference and Symposium 2024

The Explorers Conference and Symposium 2024

The Natural History Museum's Explorers Programme welcomes everyone (regardless of background or career stage) who is interested, studying, and/or working in Earth, environmental, and ecological sciences to explore how to make our field more equitable, accountable, and better in practice in serving people and planet.

The Explorers Programme will be running a conference and symposium over two days. Details for both events can be found below.

These events are free to attend and will be held in person. We will endeavour to reimburse travel expenses for audience members who are arriving from outside London.

Explorers Conference

At this conference, you will hear directly from scientists from marginalised ethnic groups about their careers and experiences, discover the varied opportunities in the environmental sciences, and take part workshops to provide the tools and advice that will assist you on your own career and educational journeys. There will also be a networking session at the event to meet the speakers and discuss opportunities and advice.

This event is free to attend and will be held in person. We will endeavour to provide travel support for students and attendees with financial barriers who are arriving from outside London.

Please note this event for those aged 18+ and above.

When

Thursday 28 November 2024

10:00 AM - 8:00 PM GMT

Workshops

• Creative Approaches to Public Engagement by Khalil Thirlaway
• Open data workshop by AfroDino Hack
• Fieldwork safety by British Geological Survey

Agenda

• Registration
• Welcome and introductions by Nuzhat Tabassum
• Panel 1: Career Journeys
• Lunch
• Panel 2: Democratising Science
• Workshop 1
• Break
• Workshop 2
• Networking Session

Explorers Symposium

At this symposium, we will hear from those who have lived experience, interdisciplinary insight, and/or experimented with improving equity in science, education, environmental and cultural sectors. Speakers have a range of expertise and we aim to create a place of knowledge exchange – learning from different disciplines and exploring approaches to climate and environmental justice. While panel members will initiate the discussion, we invite attendees to actively contribute and participate in the discussions. There will also be a networking session at the event to meet the speakers and discuss ideas, opportunities and advice.

This event is free to attend and will be held in person. We have some funds to reimburse travel expenses for students and other attendees with financial barriers who are arriving from outside London.

Please note this event for those aged 18+ and above.

When

Fruday 29 November 2024

10:00 AM - 8:00 PM GMT

Core panels

• Understanding the roots and causes of underrepresentation and marginalisation in the UK and beyond*
• Narrating and contextualising collections and specimens*

Optional panels (you will be able to attend two from)

• Co-developing science with Indigenous and local communities*
• Recruitment, retainment, and systemic change
• Access in science*
• Outreach with marginalised communities

Panels marked with an * are available to those attending remotely and in-person.

Agenda

• Registration
• Welcome and introductions by Nuzhat Tabassum and Nick Crumpton
• Core Panel 1
• Lunch
• Core Panel 2
• Optional Panel 1
• Break
• Optional Panel 2
• Networking Session

Accessibility

The space is wheelchair accessible: there is lift access across the museum and an accessibility toilet at the conference area. We have hearing loop provisions. BSL interpreter can be arranged upon request. There are also quiet spaces for sensory breaks and there are prayer room facilities in the museum. Please let us know if you require these or if you need any further accessibility needs in the registration form.

Vegetarian and vegan food options will be provided for lunch, break time, and the networking session. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies in the registration form.

How to attend

All attendees, speakers, workshop facilitators, sponsors, and volunteers are required to follow the code of conduct, which will be enforced by the organisers of the event.

Please see the Eventbrite for more details and to register.

About the Explorers Project

The Explorers Programme is a pilot project of the Natural History Museum, that aims to develop events and resources to encourage and support students from marginalised ethnicities to pursue a career in Natural History research and the Environmental sector.

We would like the event to be a safe space for students and researchers from a marginalised ethnic minority background to enable an honest and open conversation, thus we regret to inform that this conference will not be recorded.

Contact us

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact the Explorers Team:

Nuzhat Tabassum, The Explorers Programme Officer (main contact)

nuzhat.tabassum[at]nhm.ac.uk

Anjali Goswami

a.goswami[at]nhm.ac.uk

Stephanie Holt

steph.holt[at]nhm.ac.uk