Women in Research and Rapunzel Foundation

When the pandemic started I thought to myself - if there is at least one good thing coming out of this, it'll like it to be a wig for a child in need. More than 4 years later here I am with 40cm (16 inches) of hair to spare, ready to be chopped off and sent to the "Rapunzel Foundation". My hope is that together we can add to the good deed and fundraise for "Women In Research Ireland (WIRI)" as well.

The organisation is a volunteer-run charity based in Dublin, Ireland, providing a platform for women, nonbinary, trans, genderfluid persons and members of under-represented groups working in research.

Since being awarded charity status in October 2018, WIRI have organised several public events which each aimed to promote equality and diversity in society and in the workplace. They held seminars on topics such as:

-Science role models

-The path of a black scholar in Ireland

-Barriers to the political participation of people with disabilities

-Talking about maths through Irish Sign Language

-How sexual harassment creates inequality in academia

-Mental healthy in higher education

Through these events, they strive to identify issues that women and other minority groups face frequently. Importantly, they provide advice and information on how to face and overcome these barriers. These events have huge public benefit, as they promote an environment which is fair an equal for everyone in society, regardless of gender, race, disability etc.