Huge congratulations to fourth-year biologist Shian-Li Kelly-Williams on winning the ‘Best Initiative’ prize at the University of Oxford’s 2025 Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences (MPLS) divisional Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Awards.
This award recognises Shian-Li for creating a groundbreaking database designed to enhance EDI-related content for undergraduate Biology students. Responding to feedback from her peers about the desire for more inclusive material in lectures, Shian-Li took the initiative to build a student-led resource hub.
The database provides a wide array of materials, from books like Lucy Cooke’s Bitch, which examines the lack of female-inclusive research in biology, to blogs and articles highlighting the work of scientists from diverse backgrounds, including those within the university.
The project has been met with enthusiastic praise from both students and staff. One user commented that the resource made them feel their “interest for my subject creeping back in,” a testament to the database’s impact. By creating a platform run by students, for students, Shian-Li has fostered a powerful sense of community and connection within the Biology department.
Congratulations Shian-Li!