Meet Dr Jenny Andrew, Head Of Data at The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and DAMA UK committee member

Tell us a bit about yourself

I work as Head of Data for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy – the trade union and professional body for UK physiotherapists. I found my way here on a path through academic science, research data management and trade union activism, so two things about me: first, I have benefited from a seriously privileged education, and I have a passion for social justice, with equality right at the top of the pile.

How did you hear about Cowrie?

I found out about Cowrie through Twitter. I’ve been tuned into equalities networks for years – I’ve had incredible support from all quarters for my work on sexual harassment and workplace discrimination, so when a Black activist I admire says “Here’s a new charity I think deserves support”, of course I’m going to pay attention, and encourage others to do the same.

Why did you decide to give to Cowrie?

I spent my time at university studying oceanography, which I see now to be one of the whitest disciplines imaginable. I had one Black friend through my course – an overseas student from Anguilla. That can’t be right! Where were my Black British peers? This is a field of study that’s going to shape our understanding and our mitigations of climate change – where’s the diversity of perspective? As a trade unionist I know that social justice demands representation. Well, science in the interest of social justice demands representation too. That doesn’t happen if we’re pre-filtering our experts – on gender, disability, or race – at the higher education stage. So I want to feel like I’m doing a little bit to help dismantle those filters. A monthly donation to Cowrie is a very tiny price to pay towards a better society!

What difference do you think Cowrie will make?

It’s obviously going to make a big difference to the individual scholars – the scholarships themselves, but also the practical support and mentoring that goes with them. You can bet I’m going to be looking out for oceanographers and physiotherapists in future cohorts, and rallying my colleagues to support them in every way possible. But I think the programme goes further too, in drawing our attention – especially the likes of me who have been numbed by our own privilege – to the lack of representation in higher ed. It’s a rallying call to everyone who values equality.