Dr Julia Sarju MRSC

Winner: 2021 Early Career Prize for Excellence in Higher Education

University of York

For making a difference to the lives of students through outstanding and innovative teaching, direct interventions and best practice around disability and accessibility, and for the dissemination of knowledge in this area.

Celebrate Dr Julia Sarju MRSC

#RSCPrizes

Julia strives to meet the diverse needs of all students and actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. She is committed to providing high-quality teaching evidenced by peer observation, student feedback, and performance review. She takes a scholarly approach to teaching innovation and works closely with students as partners in chemistry education projects. Julia leads prize-winning teaching and accessibility training, which received positive feedback and excellent engagement from students.

Born in Croydon, Julia completed her MChem in Chemistry in 2012 and was awarded her PhD in Chemistry (Title: “the Catalytic Decarbonylation of Unstrained Ketones mediated by Platinum (II) Complexes”, supervised by Professor Duncan Bruce) in 2017. Julia is a lecturer in Chemistry at the University of York, and her work centres around: (in)equity in STEM education and careers; inclusive teaching practices, resources, and assessment; and improving accessibility. She is an active member of the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN) STEMM Action group, with whom she works to highlight and address ableism and the exclusion of disabled scientists.

Equitable, effective science education is empowering, it provides a range of tools to creatively address current and future challenges.

Q+A

Who or what inspired you to have a role in education?

My mum, Mary, who is an incredibly caring and creative maths teacher. She taught me early on the importance of valuing every learner as an individual.

What motivates you?

Higher education should be inclusive and accessible for all students, instructors, and researchers regardless of background or identity. We have a lot of work to do and it is a huge pleasure and privilege to work with students and colleagues at the University of York towards genuinely inclusive education.

How can good science education support solving global challenges?

Equitable, effective science education is empowering, it provides a range of tools to creatively address current and future challenges.

What is your favourite element?

My favourite element is Oxygen for all the life that it gives.