xCHANGE2021 festival marks International Women’s Day at BCU

Birmingham City University researchers have joined together to create a host of exciting events throughout March, marking International Women’s Day.

Asking questions about women’s equality

The xCHANGE festival, which began at BCU in 2019, kicks off on Wednesday 3 March and will feature academics from across all four faculties.

 The festival is curated by Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas, who sees it as an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the breadth and complexity of research taking place in our faculties, and to highlight women’s lived experiences. 

Given that this year’s festival takes place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a disproportionate impact on working women, she says it is remarkable that female researchers at BCU have still worked to put together a festival programme.

Representing the breadth and depth of BCU research

“xChange is smaller and leaner this year,” Kate says, “but we still have a diverse programme including a couple of events rolled over from xCHANGE2020 which was cut short by COVID-19.   Events include:

• Two presentations in the #WOMENSWORDS series, bringing the work and ideas of members of the BCU Women’s Professoriate to a wider audience;
• Explorations of inclusivity and diversity in the world of STEM, academic research and careers;
• An overview of gender and leadership in nursing from early career researchers;
• An evening of readings and discussion of contemporary women’s poetry, headlined by guest poet Jacqueline Saphra.

Going the extra mile

“I hope attendees will take away insights and connections relevant to their interests and research, but also acknowledge the commitment of those that have gone the extra mile in extremely challenging circumstances to organise festival events this year” Kate says. 

 You can follow xChange2021 on Twitter.