Race Equality

Find out more about the work of the Race Equality Working Group (REWG) at UCL Computer Science.

Mission Statement

“Promote a safe space to explore and discuss matters of race, discrimination and racial equality, and work together on ideas to create a more equitable and inclusive Computer Science department.” 

Established in Spring 2021, the Race Equality Working Group is membered by UCL Computer Science staff and students.

We consider issues of racism, inequality and racial discrimination experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students within the department. 

Image of students standing and networking at an event

“I feel incredibly proud to be part of the Computer Science Race Equality working group and honoured to have received an award for my contributions over the past three years. Our group has organised several events, from panel discussions with established professionals to networking opportunities for aspiring students, with a central theme of highlighting the diverse range of talent amongst a diverse set of people.

I think that the REWG has been incredibly impactful in uniting our department and shedding light on the importance of representation, inclusivity, and the recognition of our similarities as well as our differences. There is so much joy in bringing people together to celebrate one another, and I think that our activities have been a true example of that.

I hope that the work of the REWG continues to raise the bar and encourages others to invest their time, attention, and resources to this important aspect of our community. And if you are someone who is thinking about getting involved, then take this as your sign to go for it!” Sophie Martin, PhD student and Race Equality Working Group member 2022 to 2025. 

Arkisites audit 2022

In 2022, we concluded our work with an external partner to audit staff and student recruitment and retention processes and to identify any structural barriers that disproportionately affect Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. 

Events & Activities  

  • "Reclaiming Narratives:" Black History Month Celebration 2024: The working group organised its fourth successful Black History Month celebration with an evening amplifying the voices of Black Computer Scientists. Read more about the event now. 
  • Staff Potluck Pic-n-Mixers 2024: At the AI Centre, and Bloomsbury Campus  

    Last year, we had hosted a fun potluck event, where staff came together to share some of their favourite cultural snacks. From Lebanese and Caribbean dishes to Bangladeshi treats, a traditional German cake, and a classic British fruit cake—there was something for everyone to enjoy. The event also featured a fun and engaging "Guess the Flag" activity, adding a playful twist to the celebration of our diverse community. A big thank you to all the staff who took part and helped make the lunch events successful.

  • Race Equality Week Lunch and Learn 2024: The working group presented its activities over the past 12 months discussing schools outreach activity with Thinking Black, community celebrations, and the arkisites' audit.

  • Black History Month Celebrations 2023: "Saluting Our CS-isters." An evening celebrating Black women in computer science and the future of AI and emerging technologies. Panel members included Morenike Magbagbeola, Robotics Engineer at Global Logic, Natasha Musonda, Senior Analyst at Avanade, Dr Rashada Harry, Enterprise Account Director at Amazon Web Services, and Favour Borokini, PhD student at Nottingham University (African AI and Tech Ethics Researcher). 
  • Speed Networking Event 2023: The event aimed to provide students from diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to engage and connect with professionals from a range of industries. The speed networking panel included Sam de Silva, Managing Director at Credit Suisse, Morenike Magbagbeola, Research Fellow in Surgical Robot Vision at UCL, Natasha Musonda, Senior Analyst at Avanade, Temitayo Olugbade, Computer Science and AI Lecturer at University of Sussex, Shah Odud, Associate Director at PwC, Chimdi Igwe, Cybersecurity PhD student, and Dr Sobhan Tehrani, UCL Computer Science Lecturer.
  • Race Equality Week Event 2023 - "It's everyone's business": Elijah Ajuwon from Arkisites delivered an update summarising the findings of the audit. There was an opportunity for staff to ask questions and learn about inclusive practices in research with James Cole.  

  • Black History Month Celebrations 2022: "Celebrating Black Computer Scientists." An evening with a panel discussion centred around career pathways, and future opportunities in Computer Science, followed by delicious Caribbean food and cakes. Panel members included Hope Oloye, UCL PhD student in Computational Neuroscience & founder of Thinking Black, Temitayo Olugbade, UCL Research Fellow in affective computing, applied machine learning, emotion AI, David Johnson, CEO at Zero to Design, and Ose Pedro, Research Scientist. 

  • Speed Networking Event 2022: The event was an exciting opportunity for Black, Asian and minority ethnic students to connect with industry professionals from similar backgrounds. The speed networking panel included 

Student Support 

Training & resources

UCL Computer Science Community Spotlight

The UCL Computer Science Race Equality Working Group has launched a new spotlight series highlighting the important work of our academic staff members, professional services staff and students.

Meet the community 

Working group members

  • Ashley Bedeau 
  • Morenike Magbagbeola
  • Raymond Ojinnaka
  • Sophie Martin
  • Kiran Ahmed
  • Taznim Nisha
  • Leny Vinceslas
  • Chimdi Igwe
  • Moona Mazher

Events & Activities

Race equality virtual meet-ups: Fortnightly meetings for staff and students 

Computer Science Community Coffee Mornings: Further details to follow soon

Contact Details

Race Equality Co-leads:

Ashley Bedeau
Morenike Magbagbeola

Report & Support

We believe that bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct are never okay. All UCL students and staff can report anonymously, or contact an advisor for support. Tell us what happened 

Resources

Race Equality at UCL

Race Equality Charter

RaceMatters@UCL

Race Equality Steering Group EDI

Racial and Xenophobic Harassment Support

Student UCLU Hate Crime

Race equality educational resources