The White Rose Gender Equality College is inviting college members to come together for a series of informal virtual coffee sessions – a welcoming space to reconnect, share ideas, and value one another’s contributions. These sessions offer a chance to step away from busy to-do lists, hear about others’ work, and enjoy open, flowing conversations around shared interests and experiences.

To find out more about the college, please read this spotlight article.

To become a member of the college, please email Melanie Knight

Upcoming events:

16 October coffee topic (11:00-12:00) – Prof Sue Sherman

School of Psychology, University of Sheffield

Prof Sherman’s profile

Understanding physically disabled women’s experience of cervical screening

Disabled people are more likely than non-Disabled people to have a delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer, due partly to lower screening uptake. Despite this and the fact that more than 20% of the UK population has a disability, there has been little research to understand the barriers and facilitators to cervical screening in this population. In this session, I’ll talk about the experience of working with physically disabled women and people with a cervix to develop a survey to explore their experiences of and preferences for cervical screening. I’ll touch on the impact the stakeholders had on the design of the project, some of the findings from the work as well as some of the reactions the work has received, which have been very illuminating.

4 November coffee topic (time TBC) – Prof Ann Phoenix

Social Research Institute, UCL Institute of Education

Prof Phoenix’ profile

9 December coffee topic (11:00-12:00) – Dr Francis Poitier

School of Medicine, University of Leeds

Dr Poitier’s profile

End Jan – Early Feb 2026  – Gender equality and intersectionality in the global research space: Challenges and opportunities retreat. (10:00-16:00)

Hybrid event, University of Sheffield campus