social justice

As microbiologists, and as academics, we have a responsibility to resist—and not reinforce—systems of hierarchy, exploitation and extraction.

Microbiology, like all scientific disciplines, has its roots in colonial exploitation and extraction (of material wealth but also knowledge), and these oppressive systems continue to influence contemporary research agendas and practices. As such, there is no "apolitical" science—either we resist the status quo, or we reinforce it.

I am committed to challenging structural inequalities including racism, cis-heteronormativity and classism both through my work and in wider academic settings. In future, I also want to explore the following:

Unravelling the links between colonialism and AMR
Developing a framework of "critical microbiology" that examines how systems of power produce and reinforce microbiological crises like AMR and emerging infectious diseases

If you are interested in collaborating on these or related topics, please...

get in touch

Decolonising SBS

I'm a founding member of Decolonising the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Aberdeen. Decolonising SBS is a student-led grassroots action group aiming to identify and dismantle racist power structures that perpetuate inequality across our department and the wider university. Importantly, our work is independent from departmental and university management. As postgraduate students with limited institutional power, we have focused on creating lasting knowledge-sharing partnerships and building relationships with a range of partners to lobby for systemic change.

We were awarded a competitive Development Trust grant in 2023-24 worth £2,500 to organise a series of practical "decolonising the biological sciences" workshops, run regular reading groups and create an anti-racism lending library within our department.

Student Decolonising Network

I'm also a co-founder of the University of Aberdeen's Student Decolonising Network together with Vanessa Mabonso Nzolo and Sabelo Ndwandwe. The network operates independently from the university to make space for student activists from across all Schools in the university to form community, find new ways to collaborate and resist the university's attempt to depoliticise and deradicalise our decolonising work.

social justice

As microbiologists, and as academics, we have a responsibility to resist—and not reinforce—systems of hierarchy, exploitation and extraction.

Decolonising SBS

Student Decolonising Network

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