In this episode of Periodically, hosts Manami and Charlie are joined by Dr. Jenny Burnham, a chemistry teaching specialist at the University of Sheffield, about the challenges women face in balancing their reproductive health and a career in academia.

The conversation offers a candid look at the realities of menstrual health, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and part-time work. Jenny speaks openly about her personal experiences with reproductive health, from the difficulties of trying for a baby to the impact of menopause on her career.

Want to learn more? Check out the RSC Breaking Barriers Report here.

(3:10 ) The impact of menstrual health
(5:42 ) Pregnancy in academia
(12:08 ) Addressing the leaky pipeline in chemistry academia
(19:29 ) Part-time work and career progression
(28:03 ) Adjustments for a truly equitable workplace

About the hosts:

Charlie: Hi, I’m Charlie and I am a postgraduate student in inorganic chemistry. I am really passionate about EDI work within chemistry and when the project was proposed looking into the impact of periods in chemistry, I was really excited to be involved!

Manami: Hi, I’m Manami and I’m a third-year undergraduate student at Oxford. I am really passionate about this project because my period has affected my degree and I would like others in this situation to not feel alone!

We want to talk about all things periods and how they affect our daily lives as chemists at Oxford. We would love to here your views and opinions:
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We'd like to thank the RSC Inclusion and Diversity Fund, the University of Oxford Chemistry Department, and the EPSRC-funded OxICFM CDT for supporting the podcast.