The Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PAC) wishes to foster a positive cultural environment which allows both staff and students to flourish, ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and valued. We recognise that this requires commitment (and action) from everyone at all levels of the Department and that often this can only be achieved by changing cultures and attitudes across the Department. 

The EDI Committee within the Department is committed to widening access and inclusion. Promoting the value of the many different identities which make up an organisational culture which is respectful and inclusive irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, parental and caring responsibilities/leave, race, sexual orientation, religion, belief or social background. 

The EDI Committee is the representative body for the Department who advocate for, and recognise the differing needs of individuals including, the recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, development and promotion of staff. It will identify problems, come up with pragmatic solutions and will monitor the effectiveness of these actions. The ultimate aim being for a positive influence over the Departmental culture and to raise awareness to ensure that everyone that works or is a student within the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry will feel valued irrespective of their personal circumstances. 

The PAC EDI committee is led by Dr Aruna Ivaturi (Director EDI) and is formed of both staff and students and is divided into five subcommittees looking at specific EDI aspects relating to: 1) Gender Equality, 2) Race Equality, 3) Disability & Wellbeing Equality, 4) LGBTQ+ Equality and 5) Widening Access and has a dedicated administrator (Mr. Dave Jones).

PAC EDI Committee

EDI in PAC Teaching Labs:

Our chemistry teaching laboratories are designed to be inclusive, flexible, and supportive environments for all students, including those with visible and less-visible physical and mental disabilities, and we have experience accommodating specific needs such as visual impairment, fatigue, or limited mobility. We embed principles of accessible learning into the way our labs run, fostering a culture of care, adaptability, and affirmation. Flexible structures such as catch-up mechanisms, medical exemption systems, and adaptable scheduling support students managing personal or medical circumstances, including conditions with unexpected flare-ups like chronic pain or gastrointestinal issues. Teaching staff are trained in mental health awareness and supportive approaches, while orientation events, lab familiarisation sessions, and video preparation resources help reduce stressors in new environments. Our laboratories are designed with neurodiverse students in mind, normalising rest breaks and embedding multiple clear lines of communication, and tailored mechanisms such as 1:1 PhD demonstrator support and built-in lab report write-up time further help students manage workload effectively. In summary, our chemistry teaching laboratories embed accessibility into every aspect of teaching, ensuring that students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and neurodiverse needs can fully participate and thrive, supported by flexible structures, trained staff, tailored mechanisms, and proactive orientation that together foster a culture of care, equity, and adaptability across all labs. If you have any concerns or queries related to your disability, please get in touch with the department to discuss your specific requirements.

Disability and Wellbeing Support @ PAC students:

The department works with the University’s Disability & Wellbeing Service (https://www.strath.ac.uk/professionalservices/disabilityandwellbeing/) to offer support to students with a range of disabilities recognised to play substantial and long-term negative effect on academic study. These include specific learning difficulties and sensory and physical impairments, as well as mental health, Asperger's Syndrome, unseen disabilities, and other medical conditions. Support primarily includes, but is not limited to, adjustments to learning, teaching, and assessment (e.g., additional time for class tests and exams, alternative provision of print and display materials, consideration for extensions in other regular assignments, provision of a reader/scribe, recording of lectures, etc). Additional support may also be arranged through the Disability & Wellbeing Service and a student’s assigned Disability Counselor for assistive technology provision, personal support assistance, notetaking support, mentoring, etc. For inquiries, please contact the chemistry Departmental Disability Contact chemistry.ddc@strath.ac.uk.

If you would like to report any PAC EDI related issues or share feedback anonymously, Please click the following tab