The Sumner lab embraces equality in science, and welcomes dialogue, collaboration and scholastic interactions with the widest diversity of people, from all backgrounds, geographical regions, walks of life, no matter what life has thrown at you.

Here are some of the things we do…

Opportunities for school students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Every child deserves the chance to have a taste of what it’s like to be a scientist. But sadly, not every child has the means to do so.  Our lab is an active supporter of the In2Science scheme, which provides work experience placements for A-level school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Read about the fun some of our recent students got up to here.

Bringing Science to the Streets: Soapbox Science

Soapbox Science (co-founder with Dr Nathalie Pettorelli (ZSL); 2011-current). Science engagement and equality initiative. Multi-award-winning initiative that seeks to promote the visibility of women in science. Public outreach events that bring female scientists to the streets to discuss their science, raising their public profiles and the making public the issue of equality in science soapboxscience.org. Watch a film.

Working for equality in the work place: Athena SWAN

Seirian was Academic Lead for the Bronze Athena SWAN award for the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol. She is leads the Athena SWAN committee for the Division of Biosciences, UCL.

Recent articles on Gender and Science:

Sumner S. & Pettorelli N. 2021 Changing the academic system for women in science. In: Womanthology.

Sumner (2015) Four steps to killing off sexism in science. The Guardian Higher Education, September 2015

Pettorelli & Sumner (2015) Opportunity knocks for the Tories to boost gender equality in science. The Conversation, May 2015

Pettorelli & Sumner (2014) Women scientists take to their soapboxes on London’s South bank. The Guardian, 27th June

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2013). Women in Science: Changing the game for women in science: it’s not a one-stop-shop. The Independent

Pettorelli, N. & Sumner, S. (2013). On a soapbox for women in science. The Guardian

Sumner, S. (2013). Breaking the taboo: advice that could help retain women in science. Soapbox Science Blog.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2013). Soapbox Science: Bringing Science to the Streets. British Ecology Society Bulletin.

Pettorelli, N., Else, L. & Sumner, S. (2012). Empowering Men to Balance the Gender Gap in Science. Science.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2012). Top Recommendations from Top Women in Science. Nature.

Pettorelli, N. & Sumner, S. (2012). Plug the leaky career pipes for women by challenging social norms. The Independent.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2011). The high cost of being a woman. New Scientist (UK), pp. 26-27.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2011). Women in Science: Getting women to stay in the field. The Independent.

Pettorelli, N. & Sumner, S. (2011). Conservation of an endangered species: the female scientist. Guardian Higher Education.