Welcome to the 96th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. As you know, in June, the podcast is focused on Corporate Social Responsibility. So, today I am joined by an incredibly special guest, Professor Richard OC Oreffo to talk about Empowerment through the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation.
Listen to the episode
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About my guest and Empowerment through the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation
Professor Richard OC Oreffo holds the Chair of Musculoskeletal Science. Additionally, he is the co-founder and Director of the Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration at the University of Southampton.
He has held positions in USA, AstraZeneca, and the University of Oxford before being appointed to a lectureship in 1999 at the University of Southampton. Richard leads a multidisciplinary research group focused on developing strategies to repair bone and cartilage. The key driver being translation through to patient benefit. His research led to the first 3D titanium bone stem cell impaction graft operation in the UK.
In 2015 he was awarded a Doctor of Science by the University of Oxford in bone regenerative medicine. He is the founder / CSO of Renovos Biologics Limited. In June 2020, he founded the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, a partnership with universities, business and donors to enable 100 disadvantaged Black British students to attend UK universities in the next decade.
In today’s show, we talk about
- Why Professor Richard became an academic. [03:11]
- What true racial equality in universities and education looks and feels like to him. [10:50]
- Some things education as a whole could be doing to be more inclusive to Black students right now. [13:58]
- What universities could be doing to integrate Black students once they arrive there. [20:27]
- His top 3 tips for looking after his mental health. [30:20]
Quotes about Empowerment through the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation.
- I’ve always had a curiosity for learning and a passion to try and make a difference.
- In the early days, I was very fortunate to have mentors right from primary school, and that really brought out the best in me, in what were some very challenging circumstances.
- In academia, we don’t live in a meritocracy.
- What would be nice is a chance for Black mentors to come through and be recognised so that the students can actually aspire and see that it’s possible.
- I think that the history that we teach our children is so important. Especially, the history that existed before colonialism.
Connect with my guest and support the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation.
- Cowrie Scholarship Foundation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
- Cowrie Scholarship Foundation’s website and Email
- Check out Episode 52: The Messy Myth of Meritocracy
- TED Talk: The Danger of Single Story
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Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.