Sam Browning, Geography & Environment, University of Liverpool (2024 Cohort)

Hi Folks,

I am Sam, your new EDI and Well-Being NWSSDTP Student Representative at the University of Liverpool. Please read on to learn more about me, my research and what I want to bring to the role as your new EDI and Well-Being DTP contact at Liverpool.

I started my PhD in October 2024 under the guiding expertise of Prof. Bethan Evans, Dr. Morag Rose and Prof. Garry Squires. Previously, I have studied BA Geography at the University of Sussex (2019-2022) and for an MA in Contemporary Human Geography here at Liverpool (2022-2023). So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Liverpool and living around the city. I have found all to be welcoming and inclusive, and it has been easy for me to develop a sense of belonging to the local community.

For context, my NWSSDTP-funded PhD project centres on neurodiversity in Higher Education. My primary rationale for undertaking this research is based on my lived experiences as someone who identifies as neurodivergent (Dyspraxic) and believes strongly in taking a ‘strengths-first-deficits-second approach’ to everyday life. I am critiquing ableism in the contemporary academy space primarily through infusing crip theory and crip-time from interdisciplinary literature across the social sciences. Mainly, I am researching the barriers to access and strengths of neurodivergent members (academic staff and students) across different English universities and places. When I complete the data collection, I will adopt a flexible interviewing method to speak to staff and students about their experiences of being neurodivergent at university. There may also be room for autoethnographic research. I will adopt a flexible-based approach to designing and conducting interviews to make participation in neurodiversity research more inviting and in tune with the potential sensitivities around discussing such a topic in a supportive and inclusive online space. I will embrace the opportunity of working with my colleagues to make HEIs more accessible and inclusive of neurodiverse demographics. Our universities should be pedagogical-social places where everyone can feel included, work is accessible and manageable, support is available, and we collectively understand each other’s strengths. My research will feed into policy to shape/review inclusive teaching, learning, research and administrative practices. I am also determined to produce new epistemology on the strengths of neurodivergent individuals and the broader benefits of bolstering a neurodiverse workforce in academia, and one where these members can fully play to their talents.

Finally, in my new rep role, I will advocate for diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities for all members of the NWSSDTP community. It will be my duty to collectively understand, review and improve existing policies, practices and procedures to enhance access to various academic and social programmes across the network for all members of the Global Majority at the DTP. I emphasise the word ‘collective’ here, as I cannot do the above as effectively without you. Please do reach out to me to share your suggestions (sgsbrow4@liverpool.ac.uk). Likewise, I promise to do the same and will always make time to respond, so do expect to hear from me regularly via the DTP communications team.

Together, we can make a positive difference for everyone. We can fully celebrate diverse voices and support growing workplace cultures to amplify the voices of the Global Majority and highlight unique ways academia can be altered to make teaching, learning and research more accessible for all. My role will see me network across the DTP to promote equal opportunities for all to access studentships and pathways through academia and other connected industries, where diversity is fully valued and championed. Everyone’s presence, strengths and talents should be appreciated and empowered no matter what social background one comes from, and that should be at the heart of what we do through our research, words and actions at the NWSSDTP.

I look forward to working with you over the next three and a half years.

Best wishes,

Sam Browning