Interview with Fatima Ismail - Blood Diamond Documentary

Jenny Bulstrode (JB): Hi Fatima, you’re just completing your first year studying the Sociology and Politics of Science in UCL’s Science and Technology Studies department (STS), what made you choose STS and how are you finding it so far?

Fatima Ismail (FI): There were so many reasons why I picked STS, but my main one was my fascination with understanding how science and technology shape the world around us, and vice versa. At the same time, I have an interest in politics and social justice, so when I discovered STS, it felt like the perfect way to blend both passions.

Right now, there are so many aspects of our lives that are shaped and governed by science and technology, which I believe makes it crucial to understand how science itself is created, who it's created for, and how it's being distributed. I'm absolutely loving the course so far, and I feel that STS is allowing me to explore these scientific questions while also thinking about global inequalities, policymaking, and the role of knowledge in shaping power.

I also really enjoy the variety of modules. At first, they seem quite different from each other, but they end up intersecting in really interesting ways. It's nice to see how different disciplines connect and inform one another, because it shows how complex and interconnected the world is too. 

JB: Outside your university work, you’re also an activist. Could you tell us a bit about that – how you got involved and any projects you’ve been working on recently?

FI: My activism journey started when I was 13, and it began through youth theatre. At the time, I started working on some climate-related issues, and now I've been selected to be Ireland's Climate Youth Delegate. In this role, I will be working to ensure that the voices of young people are represented in international climate policy and the processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

I also work on other human rights topics such as quality education, poverty, gender equality, mental health, etc., which I have addressed through various roles with bodies such as UNICEF, the Council of the European Union, and the European Economic and Social Committee.

Currently, a key focus for me is my work with the Young Voices of Africa (YVA), where I'm the President of the Women's Forum and a member of the board. We are currently leading a cross-continental project that highlights the Blood Diamond war in Sierra Leone. It began as a campaign exploring the global diamond industry and has since evolved into a documentary featuring testimonies from survivors of Sierra Leone's civil war. The campaign involves community storytelling and creative methodologies such as spoken word poetry and other forms of media outreach. 

JB: I know from your work in the module I teach that you’ve brought your research and thinking into your studies in really impressive ways. In what ways does your activism inform your university work? And do you also find your university work informs your activism?

FI: Absolutely, I find that they inform each other constantly. My university work has really shaped the kinds of questions I ask in my activism. It has pushed me to think more critically about not just what we know, but how we came to know it. This has helped me reflect more on how I design campaigns or even engage with different communities. The interdisciplinary framework and research methods that I have learned at university have also equipped me with the tools to better analyse social issues.

On the other hand, parts of my activism have brought into my academic work perspectives that I believe are often overlooked, especially those of refugees, women from minority backgrounds, or young people from the Global South. Having worked directly with these communities, I try to centre their experiences in my research. I often draw on examples from organisations like YVA to explore things like how grassroots science has found solutions to disasters driven by top-down policies.

When engaging with academic readings and theories, I often find myself reflecting on how these compare with the practical knowledge I gained through my activism, which allows me to critically assess and contextualise both forms of understanding. I feel that with STS and my activism, there has been a continuous exchange between learning and doing.

Images

• Top: Fatima Ismail and Kelvin Akpaloo, members of the same working group at the European Youth Conference held in Poland in March 2025. Fatima served as the harvester, capturing key ideas and supporting report writing, while Kelvin, CEO and President of the Young Voices of Africa, facilitated discussions. Together, they worked with the Polish Presidency to prepare and deliver the session on "You and Your Safety in the EU."
• Bottom: This image shows the Young Voices of Africa diaspora group performing at Africa Day in Tallaght, Dublin. Through spoken word poetry, singing, and dance, they shared stories about the legacy of blood diamonds, raising awareness, celebrating Africa’s strength, and creating a connection between the continents. Key message: solidarity, not charity.