Black Women in Science Podcast

The Black Women in Science Network

We just want to talk about things that matter to Black women, professionally and personally. And so, we will and we did.

  1. MAR 2

    49. Physics and Law? Patent Litigation with Kathryn Plummer

    Miss Kathryn Plummer is patent litigator, but previously worked as a patent attorney. She has completed an MSc Physics and then completed a qualification in intellectual property law. On this episode, Kathryn introduces us to the little known field of patent litigation and how science is vital to this role. We discuss the intersection of physics and law, and her experience of working in corporate settings. She tells us what the differences are between being a patent attorney and patent litigator and what her day to day involves. Kathryn shares the importance of pursuing her aspirations within work while remaining grounded amidst such a fast-paced environment. Kathryn highlights the lack of racial representation in her field and her involvement in outreach projects to improve access.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Kathryn Plummer LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-plummer-83411517a/  More information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.

    42 min

  2. FEB 16

    48. Teaching Physics with Afiya Romain-Bains

    Miss Afiya Romain-Bains is a physics teacher and physics education consultant. Afiya takes us through her journey of working in schools in London and teaching through COVID, to then moving and pursuing business in Kenya and living abroad in Brazil. She ultimately discovered her love for online teaching where she then started her own business of online tutoring A-level, GCSE and IGSCE physics. We discuss physics’ traditional reputation as being a majority White field and the importance racial representation in improving access to physics. Afiya tells us about challenges she faces as a teacher and solo entrepreneur whilst trying to foster resilience within young people and make physics accessible and engaging. Afiya’s story is one of innovation, adaptability and creativity where she is willing to try and fail, and hopes the listeners would be encouraged to do the same.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Afiya Romain-Bains LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/afiyaromain-bains/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@learnphysicswithafiya Instagram & TikTok - @learnphysicswithafiya  More information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.

    40 min

  3. FEB 2

    47. Neuroimaging Research and Inclusion with Dr Yolanda Ohene

    Dr Yolanda Ohene is a neuroimaging scientist, STEM communicator and director of The Blackett Lab Family, UK collective of Black physicists. She is a physicist by training, and holds a PhD in Medical Imaging from University College London. We discuss her experiences studying abroad in Paris and completing a fellowship in Berlin and how beneficial these opportunities have been in doing science elsewhere. Yolanda has spoken at various events, including science festivals and the BBC. She gives useful advice on developing public speaking skills and the importance of effective science communication. Yolanda shares her journey into neuroimaging and her specific interest in MRI techniques within dementia research. We explore the new developments in the neuroimaging field, the move towards precision medicine and her own work looking at the blood brain barrier and its role in early onset of cognitive decline. We finish with her work within the Blackett lab Family and provisions they’ve made to support students interested in or doing physics.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Dr Yolanda Ohene LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-ohene-05b199a0/  More information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.

    52 min

  4. 10/27/2025

    46. Respiratory Health Inequities with Dr Sope Wolffs

    Dr Sope Wolffs is a lecturer in Biomedical science at Cardiff University. With a diverse career background spanning basic and clinical research, trial management and teaching, she is driven by a commitment to people-centred research and inclusive science. On this episode, we discuss Sope’s career trajectory, namely how her personal experience of severe asthma as a child and later experiences engaging with patients with rare condition called IPF, led her to pursue to a PhD in respiratory physiology. Sope tells us about the Equal Breath Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) which seeks to address disparities in lung and respiratory health among Black communities. We discuss the issues of funding in the respiratory health space, limited societal awareness of these issues and the psychological impact of living with these conditions. Sope’s hope is that patient centred research will work towards the goal of helping people breath better.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Dr Sope Wolffs   Discussed in episode: Equal Breath PSP Project website  Children and Young People Survey (closes early December 2025)   Adult Survey (closes early December 2025) More information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.    Check us out on this list for Top Women in Science Podcasts on Feedspot - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.feedspot.com/women_in_science_podcasts/⁠⁠

    51 min

  5. 09/22/2025

    45. Improving Black Health Outcomes with Olympia Amoo

    Olympia Amoo, senior research nurse for NIHR BioResource, joins us on this episode. She works on Improving Black Health Outcomes Study in London as part of the NiHR BioResource. She has over 10 years of nursing experience where she eventually qualified in paediatric nursing and struck interest in Sickle Cell Disease and other red cell diseases. Olympia shares with us her story of being diagnosed with a rare condition (TTP) that would eventually shape her career journey into pursuing and advocating for patient centred research. We discuss what research nursing entails, why there continues to be a gap between healthcare and Black communities, the systemic nature of racism and ongoing work that is being done to improve health outcomes. Olympia shares with us what Improving Black Health Outcome study entails, some of the emerging findings from this study and how everyone, including healthy people, can get involved.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Ms Olympia Amoo NIHR BioResource  Improving Black Health Outcomes Study More information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.    Check us out on this list for Top Women in Science Podcasts on Feedspot - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.feedspot.com/women_in_science_podcasts/⁠⁠

    54 min

  6. 09/01/2025

    44. Artificial Intelligence & Dementia with Dr Sophie Martin

    Dr Sophie Martin is a Research Fellow at University College London, having completed her PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Medical Imaging in 2025 where her research explored the use of AI models for predicting dementia from brain scans. On this episode, we discuss Sophie’s experience of academia, progressing from bachelors to doctorate in one-go. She also tells us about dementia, the challenges within dementia research and how AI can be used to resolve some of these difficulties. We discuss ongoing questions around AI use in healthcare such as patients safety and privacy concerns and recruitment biases. Outside of her research, Sophie is one of the founding directors of The Blackett Lab Family, a network dedicated to connecting, representing and inspiring the next generation of UK based Black physicists. Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Dr Sophie Martin Sophie's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophmrtn/  The Blackett Lab Family - https://theblackettlabfamily.com  More information:    Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.    Check us out on this list for Top Women in Science Podcasts on Feedspot - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.feedspot.com/women_in_science_podcasts/⁠⁠

    1h 1m

  7. 06/23/2025

    43. Mercury: A Chemical of Concern with Dr Esohe Irabor

    What are chemicals of concern and how do they disproportionately affect minoritised communities. On a previous episode with Simone (X) Braithwaite, we discussed the use of toxic chemicals in beauty and personal care products. Dr Esohe Irabor who is an APHL Public Health Laboratory Fellow with a PhD in Biology from Howard University. She completed doctoral research focused on the impact of psychosocial stress on cardiometabolic disease outcomes in African American communities. On this episode, Dr Irabor joins us in continuation of this discussion with a focus on mercury as a chemical of concern. Dr Irabor outlines what mercury is, its harmful effects and why its harms disproportionately affects Black and brown women. We discuss the ongoing challenges in stopping the use of and access to mercury, as well as the importance of racial representation and inclusivity in engaging affected communities in a factual yet sensitive manner.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Dr Esohe Irabor, contact her on LinkedIn  Resources mentioned in episode:  1. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: https://www.safecosmetics.org  2. The Equity & Wellness Collaborative: https://www.equitywellness.org  3. EWG’s Skin Deep: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/  4. Black Women For Wellness: https://bwwla.org  5. WeAct for Environmental Justice: https://weact.org  More information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.    Check us out on this list for Top Women in Science Podcasts on Feedspot - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.feedspot.com/women_in_science_podcasts/⁠⁠

    1h 2m

  8. 06/09/2025

    42. Beauty Justice - The Tea on Toxic Chemicals with Simone (X) Braithwaite

    Just how safe are your cosmetics? Simone (X) Braithwaite works as an Environmental Justice Organizer for Clean Water Action in Newark, New Jersey. On this episode, Simone discusses one of her campaigns called Tea on Toxic Beauty. She introduces us to the concept of beauty justice, which looks at the disproportionate use of toxic chemicals in products marketed to black women and the subsequent adverse health outcomes Black women face as a result. We talk about the ongoing challenges with changing cosmetic legislation and regulation, why companies appear reluctant to move towards non-toxic product formulations and the importance of storytelling to empower and redeem narratives in Black and brown communities.  Host: Tulela Pea, from ⁠⁠⁠Black Women Science Network⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Simone (X) Braithwaite  Information mentioned in episode: Tea on Toxic Beauty (webpage) Tea on Toxic Beauty Resources Non-Toxic Black Beauty Product Database – Campaign for Safe CosmeticsRed List: Chemicals of Concern – Campaign for Safe CosmeticsRed List: Chemicals of Greater Concern to Black Women – Campaign for Safe CosmeticsSafer Beauty Bill Package – Breast Cancer Prevention PartnersEnvironmental Working Group Skin Deep DatabaseClearya: Nontoxic Shopping Made EasyRetailer Report Card – Toxic-Free Future Boston University Hair Relaxer Study: https://www.bu.edu/ctsi/2023/10/12/first-large-study-of-hair-relaxers-among-black-women-finds-increased-risk-of-uterine-cancer/  Harvard School of Public Health: Uncovering the dangers of hair products marketed to Black women, girls BWIS information:     Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.    Follow us on social media @bwisnetwork    We want to hear your feedback! Fill out this ⁠⁠⁠form⁠⁠⁠.    Check us out on this list for Top Women in Science Podcasts on Feedspot - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.feedspot.com/women_in_science_podcasts/⁠⁠

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

We just want to talk about things that matter to Black women, professionally and personally. And so, we will and we did.

Information

  • Creator
    The Black Women in Science Network
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Black Women in Science Network
  • Show Website
    Black Women in Science Podcast