About us
Who are we…?
Dr Lydia Bach - COSE Diversity and Inclusion Officer (EDI)
I wear two hats: an academic and an EDI officer. As an academic, I am interested in the links between biodiversity and ecosystem processes centring around anthropogenic change. In the EDI space, my vision is to create a more inclusive and equitable university environment where diversity is celebrated, and all voices are heard.
I have conducted fieldwork in many different environments, including coral reefs, rainforests, savannahs and mudflats and intertidal areas across the UK. I have also taught field courses, led several international expeditions and am a member of the expedition council. Despite my extensive experience, there has never been a real discussion about managing menstruation during fieldwork, and I have had to find my solutions or support students on an ad-hoc basis.
My excitement for change and destigmatising conversations about menstruation stems from personal and professional experiences. I believe that by raising awareness and providing proper education, we can ensure that conditions like endometriosis do not prevent participation in fieldwork.
Dr Millie Bompard
I have worked in geoscience education for over 20 years, alongside managing stage four endometriosis and adenomyosis. I have completed fieldwork worldwide, including the Arctic and offshore, and within large field teaching classes.
Throughout my career, I have never received training on how to manage menstruation, or menstrual conditions, with relevant information occasionally passed through informal channels, with sometimes very poor advice relying on hormonal contraception. It is time this changed, and we teach safe approaches to toileting to all members of field teams.
We need to raise awareness of conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which can affect more than 1:10 of those assigned female at birth. These conditions should not keep us out of the field, yet a lack of education, empathy and training on tools and resources often deter us, make participation more challenging, and leave the burden of managing these issues on female teaching staff.
This project will change the University of Glasgow approach to fieldwork, with an aim to train all staff involved in field delivery, and all students before they first go out into the field. Our training programme will empower staff and students with the right language, communication strategies and tools to break the taboo of discussing toileting and menstruation, and leave a legacy of comfortable, and equitable fieldwork.