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Our 
Story

Get to Know Us

The University of Nottingham Woman in STEM conference celebrates women and non-binary people excelling in academia, industry, and government.

 

Our conference is open for everyone to learn, network, and showcase their own work. 

2027 Committee

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Melissa White

Melissa is a PhD researcher in the NAMI group at the University of Nottingham. In her research, she synthesises novel materials to improve lithium–sulfur batteries. She is passionate about STEM outreach and works with several organisations to deliver science lessons to primary and secondary students.

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Adedayo Dada

Dayo is a third-year PhD student within the Sustainable Hydrogen CDT, under the supervision of Prof. Graham Newton and Dr Kieran Jones. Within the NAMI research group, Dayo primarily focuses on polyoxometalate synthesis of molecular hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts to allow efficient hydrogen production via water-splitting reactions under mild conditions. Outside the lab, Dayo enjoys keeping active through basketball, wheelchair basketball, and walks in the Peak District.

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    Emilie Wheatley

    Emilie is a postdoctoral researcher in the Silvi Group at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on promoting organic reactions photochemically and exploring novel reaction pathways. Outside of the lab, Emilie enjoys ice skating, crocheting, and listening to Taylor Swift!

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    Benjamin Denison

    Benji is a third year PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Lee Johnson, Prof. Graham Newton, and Prof. Darren Walsh in the NAMI group. His research focuses on discerning electrolyte degradation mechanisms in high energy Li-ion batteries. Outside of work, Benji enjoys the gym, squash, badminton, and watching any sport (particularly the 6 nations).

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    Brinthini Vickneswaran

    Brin is a third year PhD student working under the supervison of Prof. Mike George and Sir Martyn Poliakoff. Brin's research focuses on using process analytical technologies for sustainable flow chemistry. Outside the lab, she enjoys various activities such as badminton, dodgeball, muay thai and drinking lots of chai.

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    Georgia Aspinall

    Georgia is a third year PhD student looking at developing renal MRI through the use of contrast agents.

    About Nottingham women in chemistry.

    We are a group of young researchers and students within the School of Chemistry at the Univeristy of Nottingham who volunteer to organise the annual ‘Celebrating Women in Chemistry Conference and Careers Event’  held in honour of International Women’s Day. 

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    The conference features inspiring women speakers within academia and industry to provide insight into their research and career development. Stalls from our industry sponsors as well as poster and 3 minute thesis sessions allow for networking and discovering careers opportunites. 

     

    We are a fully inclusive event for young researchers that provides a supportive environment to foster stimulating debate, discussing issues of gender equality and diversity within the scientific community. We strive to highlight and bring awareness to the barriers that women face, but we also take immense pride in creating an event that celebrates the successes and contributions of women within STEM. Our event creates an atmosphere unlike any other conference, where delegates feel involved and valued and are able to share their own personal experiences. We hope that everyone leaves our event feeling inspired, optimistic and empowered for their future. We encourage people of all genders to attend the event to stand in solidarity with women scientists and show their support as allies. 

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    We look forward to celebrating with you soon!

    The history of our conference.

    The first Women in Chemistry conference was founded in 2019, at the initiative of three PhD students, Dara O’Brien, Rhona Savin, and Neelam Mughal. Their idea was to mark International Women’s Day (IWD), by inviting six female chemists to talk about, and celebrate, their career journeys with an inclusive audience. The idea was not only to discuss issues of equality and diversity in the chemical sciences, but to showcase women themselves at centre stage for IWD. The response was hugely positive, and it is now an annual event. Seeing the enormous response to the conference and appetite for change, Dara went on to found the Women in Chemistry Group with the Head of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee in the University of Nottingham School of Chemistry. The group was established as an umbrella-group within the EDI committee, with a particular focus on women’s (and related) issues. ​The Women in Chemistry Group continues to operate as a voluntary organisation of young researchers, academics, and professionals within the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham.

    Our awards and recognition.

    Our conference is built on the work of all our previous commitee members.

    Alumni

    2026

    Adedayo Dada

    Benjamin Dennison

    Emilie Wheatley

    Jamie Crossley

    Emily Dixon

    Eleni Aixioti

    Brinthini Vicknesswaran

    Georgina Aspinall

    Ishbel Cooke

    Amelia-Rose Edgely

    Katy Nicholls

    2023

    Abigail Miller

    Adam Lee

    Harriet Fowler

    Hetty Walker

    Jessica Streets

    Kateryna Zhyvitska

    Katherine Reynolds

    Kristoffer Kortsen

    Philippa Jacob

    Thria Alkhaldi

    2020

    Ana Alves Costa Pacheco 

    Bruna Lacerda Da Silva Abreu  

    Charlotte Roy 

    Ellen Guest 

    Marysia Tarnowska 

    Megan Thomsett 

    Patrick Morgan

    2025

    Adedayo Dada

    Joanne Searle

    Benjamin Dennison

    Evie Crowe

    Emilie Wheatley

    Jamie Crossley

    Laura Blair

    Olivia Munns

    Emily Dixon

    Eleni Aixioti

    Brinthini Vicknesswaran

    2022

    Abigail Miller

    Adam Lee

    Alexe Haywood

    Eduards Krumins

    Elizabeth Hufton

    Harriet Fowler

    Hetty Walker

    Jessica Streets

    Kateryna Zhyvitska

    Katherine Reynolds

    Kristoffer Kortsen

    Philippa Jacob

    Thria Alkhaldi

    Wagma Ayub

    2019

    Dara O’Brien 

    Neelam Mughal  

    Rhona Savin

    2024

    Adedayo Dada

    Joanne Searle

    Margaret Smith

    Nicole Tsang

    2021

    Abigail Miller 

    Ana Alves Costa Pacheco 

    Barbara Villa Marcos 

    Eduards Krumins 

    Ellen Guest 

    Jessica Streets 

    Kateryna Zhyvitska 

    Katherine Jolley 

    Katherine Reynolds 

    Megan Thomsett

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