School Initiatives

The initiatives highlighted here showcase a series of outputs from various ongoing scholarship research projects within SEMS that focus on addressing prominent EDI issues as part of the Queen Mary Principles of Inclusive Curriculum.

1. Making diversity 'count': inclusivity in STEM curricula

The profiles of past and present diverse individuals provided below form part of an ongoing scholarship research project to diversify STEM curricula being undertaken by Dr Rehan Shah in SEMS. The project is also part of the wider faculty-wide EDI initiative through CAISE, whose work has also been documented in a Queen Mary Academy case study. These are designed to increase students’ awareness of diverse representation and provide positive role models through exposure to mathematicians, scientists, and engineers from under-represented backgrounds (such as female, disabled or LGBTQ+) and non-traditional pathways in academia and industry.

Poster Presentations for this project have also been disseminated at the QMUL Festival of Education (PDF)(won Best Innovation poster award),  and as QMUL's entry for the Posters in Parliament (PDF) event. The Queen Mary Academy case study documents the impact thus far, with Dr. Shah's work also having been nominated for the QMUL Education Excellence Award and President and Principal’s Prize in 2024. 

The work has also been presented at the CAISE Inclusive Scholarship Workshop (PDF), UK-wide History for Diversity in Mathematics Network Workshop (PDF) (in collaboration with related work from The Open University) and the QMCUR QMUL Undergraduate Research Showcase (PDF) and the University of Westminster's Student Engagement Conference (PDF).

Undergraduate student researchers: Ms. Ava Dahlia Belafonte and Ms. Allegra Celesia (both of whom have received SEED Awards from Queen Mary Academy for their co-creation contributions). 

Diversity resources:

These resources have also been implemented as part of the first-year and second-year skills modules EMS499 and EMS599 led by Dr. Tina Chowdhury. 

If you have any suggestions on how to improve these resources or if you would like to suggest other possible additions following implementation, please contact Dr Rehan Shah (School Lead for Inclusive Scholarship and EDI Education Champion) on rehan.shah@qmul.ac.uk.

2. Embedding ethics and sustainability in mathematics modules

The mathematical toolkit resources provided below for academic educators are designed to raise ethical and sustainability awareness and imbibe transferable skills among undergraduate students in STEM disciplines as part of an ongoing scholarship research project undertaken by Dr Rehan Shah from QMUL with external collaborators from the University of Cambridge's Ethics in Mathematics project. They have been inspired by a comprehensive teaching booklet (PDF) featuring exercises, projects and handouts for embedding ethics in mathematics-based modules within STEM disciplines, which Dr. Shah helped co-design with external colleagues. 

In addition to traditional mathematical content, the exercise questions in this toolkit also contain an ethical/sustainability component to each problem, and in order to solve the problem fully, students need to take into account these aspects and consider it as part of their solution. “Solutions” to as many of these exercises as possible have been provided in the toolkit for academic educators. These include both a full exposition of the mathematical component of the question, as well as a discussion and incorporation of these wider societal issues that are embedded in the question, which can serve as useful points for further discussion in the classroom.

The work has also been presented at the Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference (PDF), Reflective Teaching Workshop Series at the University of Kent (PDF), the UCL Teaching in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Seminar (PDF) and through a poster (PDF) and presentation (PDF) as QMUL's entry for the London Student Sustainability Conference. Dr. Shah's work has also been shortlisted among the top 3 for the QMSU Sustainability Champion of the Year Education Award in 2025.

Undergraduate student researchers: Ms. Malmi Mahagamage and Ms. Meherun Soud 

Sustainability resources:

The sustainability resources have been implemented in the first-year mathematics module EMS412 led by Dr. Shah and within the first-year skills module EMS499 led by Dr. Tina Chowdhury. 

Ethics resources:

The ethics resources have been implemented in the second-year mathematics module EMS506 led by Dr. Shah and within the second-year skills module EMS599 led by Dr. Tina Chowdhury. 

If you have any suggestions on how to improve these resources or if you would like to suggest other possible additions following implementation, please contact Dr Rehan Shah (School Lead for Inclusive Scholarship and EDI Education Champion) on rehan.shah@qmul.ac.uk.

3. 'Squashing bugs not snakes': developing  students’ programming proficiency through co-creation of a Python toolkit   

In response to student feedback from previous runs of the first-year undergraduate mathematics module EMS412,  Dr Rehan Shah in conjunction with three former students from his module, have co-created a Python Common Errors and Practice Questions toolkit guide to help new incoming first-year students, who need additional guidance and support with Python within their undergraduate mathematics modules, particularly those with no previous programming experience. The resources will also help motivate the design of a bespoke toolkit for the Dr. Shah's second-year mathematics module, EMS506.

Undergraduate student researchers: Mr Muhie Sultan Faisal Al Haimus, Mr Yash Vaghela and Mr Ilanthiraiyan Sivagnanamoorthy (the first two have received SEED Awards from Queen Mary Academy for their co-creation contributions). 

Python toolkit resources:

  • Python Common Errors toolkit serves as a supplementary resource for students to use alongside their existing Python tutorials on Jupyterhub and documents the standard errors that students most often make, along with ways to rectify these.
  • EMS412 Practice Questions toolkit comprises a set of additional practice questions and Python exercises (with solutions) to give students a chance to hone and refine their basic programming skills.

The work has been presented at the QMCUR QMUL Undergraduate Research Showcase (PDF) and the University of Westminster's Student Engagement Conference (PDF).

If you have any suggestions on how to improve these resources or if you would like to suggest other possible additions following implementation, please contact Dr Rehan Shah (School Lead for Inclusive Scholarship and EDI Education Champion) on rehan.shah@qmul.ac.uk.

4. Levelling Up: Maths for Engineering 

An illustration of a woman working at a laptopLevelling Up: Maths for Engineering is an opportunity for Year 12 girls studying A-Level Mathematics (or equivalent), who intend to pursue an engineering-related degree at university (where A-Level Mathematics is a required subject). 

Through near-peer undergraduate tutoring and guest speakers, the programme seeks to inspire students and make them feel welcome, valued and included.  

From March 2025 participating students will receive continuous support until the A-level examinations in Year 13.

We will support A-level maths students on our programme with tutorials that give maths concepts a practical engineering angle. For example - how vectors are used to build bridges, calculus in designing wind turbines, and probability to create safe transportation systems.

The primary goal is to help students improve their maths grades in the A-level examination from C to B, B to A, A to A*. Maths is the core entry requirement for STEM subjects at higher tariff universities.

Our exceptional team of female engineering students, enrolled in a diverse range of engineering courses, will lead regular tutorials throughout the term.

Academic Lead: Dr. Rehan Shah (Lecturer in Mathematics and Engineering Education, SEMS)

Outreach Lead:  Ms. Holly Barrett (Student Recruitment and Marketing Manager, SEMS)