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Championing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in EEE: Meet our PhD representative

PhD student Christina Vivian shares her journey as an EDI representative, discussing her passion for inclusion and the impact of the committee’s work.

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At UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment. Our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee plays a key role in this effort, but we need more voices to help drive change.

Christina Vivian, a PhD representative on the EDI committee, shares her journey in research and advocacy. She discusses her work in silicon photonics, her passion for EDI, and how the committee has shaped her experience. Read on to learn more about her experience and why getting involved in EDI is both rewarding and essential.

Can you tell us a bit about your PhD research and what inspired you to pursue this field?

My research is in silicon photonics, which aims to take the optical capabilities of group III/V semiconductors and combine this with the electronics capabilities and the manufacturability of silicon. Through this, I hope to develop new photonic devices and systems that are more accessible and can benefit a host of applications, from high-speed data transmission to biomedical sensors. I grew up witnessing technology's evolution and its rapid uptake into domestic life and have always been fascinated by the amount of innovation in this space. We've now reached a point where electronics-only systems are struggling to keep up with high demands, and this introduced me to the world of optoelectronics and integrated photonics!

What motivated you to join the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion committee?

I am impassioned towards Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives. I am no stranger to microaggressions and feeling isolated in large groups, and so with this feeling of "otherness" in mind, I like to channel this into a positive outlet, which is to make sure no one else feels this way. This is what led to me joining the EDI committee!

What kinds of activities or projects have you been involved with as part of the committee?

Since joining the committee, I have been actively working with my colleagues to improve the workplace and student experience with EDI incentives in mind. For example, another PhD EDI rep and I worked on producing and disseminating a questionnaire to understand what drew our current EEE PhD cohort to UCL and how much representation and inclusivity played a part in their choice. These results will then help recruit future students and flag any issues we may not have been aware of. I am always learning on the job, especially about issues that don't directly affect me, and so it's a good way to be introduced to other people's experiences.

How has being part of the EDI committee enriched your experience as a PhD student at UCL?

Being a part of the EDI committee alongside my PhD responsibilities takes me out of the nitty gritty of research and reminds me of another type of challenge and that we, in an academic environment, still have a long way to go. But being part of this team and seeing how equally passionate everyone else is on these issues is excellent to see, and it feels like we can make a difference in EEE at UCL.

What skills or experiences have you gained from the committee that you think will benefit you in the future?

As a researcher and communicator, it's vital to have your soft skills and being on a committee does demand that of you. I am sure that any line of work I am interested in pursuing will involve working collaboratively and with new people with different areas of expertise that aren't necessarily in research. Working with the committee has been a good opportunity to train myself in this way, so on the whole, it's been a valuable experience to have.

What would you say to other students who are considering joining the EDI committee but are unsure?

To anyone unsure about joining the EDI committee, feel free to contact me or another EDI rep (we're all lovely) about your concerns! It's a great opportunity to be an advocate in the UCL community for EDI-related incentives, and the experience will also be helpful in any working profession.

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