MAPS EDI Lunch Hour Conversations 2023: Neurodiversity and University
28 March 2023, 1:00 pm–2:00 pm

The first in the 2023 series, the next MAPS Lunch Hour Conversation will take place on Tuesday 28th March. We welcome Brian Irvine and Freya Elise from the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE) at UCL to discuss "neurodiversity and university".
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- UCL staff | UCL students
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
Ethne James-Souch (on behalf of MAPS Vice-Dean EDI Nick Achilleos)
After some short introductions the event will run in a Q&A format where the audience can also submit questions on neurodiversity and university to Brian and Freya. All staff and students in UCL are welcome to attend.
The event is via Zoom. Please ensure you register using the link above.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.
About the Speakers
Brian Irvine
at Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE)

Brian wrapped his own ESRC doctorate at ACER, the University of Birmingham's Autism Centre for Education and Research. There, he developed the first framework for Specialist (Austim) Menotoring in UK HEIs. Brian is committed to foster a neurodiverse academy. With the changes that face the world, we need robust universities and other institutions that gather thinkers of all kinds to answer problems in new ways. To do so, autistic people and communities need to be central to the production of knowledge about autism. This knowledge will inspire and demand compassionate, clear and calm universities where all students thrive.
He has mentored autistic students at Royal Holloway, University of London, where, over the last decade, has met regularly with many students as they journeyed through their university life.
More about Brian IrvineFreya Elise
Research Assistant at Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE)

Freya has worked on NIHR funded systematic reviews in autism since 2019. Prior to this Freya was part of the Wellcome Trust-funded "Cafe Connect" project, which engaged the public throughout all phases of the research cycle. Freya completed their BSc at the University of Nottingham, where they also worked on a project studying individual stories on "steps to recovery from self-harm and eating disorders".
Freya is currentlly the research assistant on a systematic review of RCTs with autistic partipants involving language and communication interventions.
More about Freya Elise