In this episode of Periodically, hosts Manami and Charlie are joined by Dr Jenny Maunder, a physical chemistry-based lecturer at the University of Durham. As a senior demonstrator, Jenny provides a unique perspective on the impact of menstrual health on both students and staff. The trio discuss the importance of training for demonstrators, focusing on understanding menstruation and potential strategies for making menstrual health a less taboo topic. (1:12) Introducing Jenny(7:45) Navigating...

In this episode of Periodically, hosts Josie and Felicity are joined by Kelly Britton, a DPhil student in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and Dr Sarah Rawe, a lecturer in chemistry at the Technological University Dublin. Listen as they discuss the realities of experiencing perimenopause while also dealing with the pressures of academia and personal life. They also discuss their symptoms, the impact on their lives, and the importance of having open conversations about these...

In this episode of Periodically, hosts Sofia and Lottie are joined by Chiara Cocco, a postdoctoral research associate at the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Caucus at Heriot-Watt University, to discuss the research that's being undertaken by initiatives like the EDI Caucus to investigate the impact of menstrual health in research and innovation. Listen to the episode for more on the impact of menstrual health on work, the need for supportive policies, the importance of open dialogue, and...

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...

In this episode of Periodically, hosts Felicity and Josie engage in an enlightening discussion with guests Liv and Lauren from the SASHA Society (Students Against Sexual Harassment and Assault), about the work that SASHA does and how they campaign for change at the University of Leeds.  Liv and Lauren, also share their personal experiences of living with endometriosis and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), the struggles they faced in receiving accurate diagnosis and the impacts on their...

Endometriosis is a chronic condition which affects one in ten people with periods in the UK. However, endometriosis is notably difficult to diagnose, taking an average of eight years from the onset of symptoms according to Endometriosis UK and with patients often being misdiagnosed or dismissed by doctors while they continue to struggle with the symptoms. In this episode of Periodically, hosts Sofia and Lottie sit down with Tiffany, a PhD student navigating academia while dealing with...

Periodically, the podcast that covers all things periods and chemistry, is back for Season Two! In this season, we want to talk more about how periods can sometimes just get in the bloody way and we'll be joined by guests who have experiences including with Endometriosis, Menopause, Perimenopause and Pregnancy. Periodically is created with thanks to the Royal Society of Chemistry Equality and Diversity fund, the EPSRC and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.

Periods are different for everyone and can significantly affect the daily lives of the people who have them. They can be irregular, debilitating, cause severe depression and many other things and the inflexible nature of a chemistry degree can make this hard to deal with.  Understanding and creating an open conversation is vital for decreasing stigma and educating those who don't have periods with the hope that they will consider them in future decision-making.  Join Amy, Charlie, Elba and...

Tutorials are the main academic event of the week, the culmination of most of the week's work. It is the point where most students have their understanding of a topic click so any hindrance due to periods can have a huge effect on student's learning. Hannah Bruce, a former undergraduate chemist wrote her dissertation on the gendered experiences of tutorials. Her main finding was that female students do more work in tutorials and she found that female students particularly struggled with...

A study by Plan International UK in 2018 found that 42% of girls use makeshift period products from socks, toilet paper, and newspaper because they could not afford period products. This was supported by a YouGov survey in 2022, which found that one in eight adults with periods say they are likely to be unable to afford period products within the next 12 months. Having period products freely available within the department helps to reduce the socio-economic impact of periods for students and...

Although the pill is widely regarded as a contraceptive, with an estimated 70% of menstruators in Britain having used the pill at some stage in their lives, a study suggests that 31% of users take the pill as a method of treating period pain and 28% to regulate their menstrual cycle. As such, when discussing the effects that periods have on. the undergraduate experience, it is important to consider the impact that the pill has. Join Manami, Felicity and Charlie as they discuss the pill and...

When periods and exams overlap, students face pain whilst taking the exams, issues with mental health and even in some cases episodes of fainting, potentially compromising their exam results. With 50% of the cohort being affected, could more consideration by the exam board improve the exam experience? Join Manami, Josie, Elba and Charlie to find out more! (0:53) Introduction(2:25) Periods and exam disadvantage(4:36) Mitigating circumstances(7:17) The knock-on effect(10:02) Impact on...

In this week's episode, we're talking about all things labs! Standing at a fume hood all day can be exhausting for anyone, but what about when you get your period? Join Lottie, Josie, Elba and Charlie to find out more! (0:51) Introduction(1:35) Time Pressures in Labs(5:33) Periods and Productivity(10:12) Communicating Challenges(13:32) Availability of Period Products(18:09) Demonstrator Responsibilities About the hosts:Lottie: Hiya, I am Lottie and I am in my 3rd year (about to begin sitting...

Periodically, the podcast that covers all things periods and chemistry! Each week, over this series of six episodes, we here at the University of Oxford will be taking a deep-dive into just how periods have affected us in tutorials, exams, labs and just generally studying at undergrad. We want to talk about how periods can sometimes just get in the bloody way! Periodically is funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry Equality and Diversity fund.