45. S4, Ep2: Ability and disability: getting the right support to thrive in academic settings

Daisy Shearer is a PhD candidate in experimental condensed matter physics at the University of Surrey in the UK. She is a passionate researcher, science communicator, and educator with a drive to make STEM more accessible and inclusive, focusing on disabled and neurodivergent people. Now 25, she was diagnosed autistic at 21. I discovered her through her very popular Instagram account, Notes from the Physics Lab, where she shares snapshots of quantum tech research life and her work as a semiconductor spintronics researcher. She also has a blog and a YouTube channel, where she talks about physics and autism. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Being openly autistic in STEM ➡ Managing sensory issues that lead to anxiety, meltdown and shutdown ➡ Whether autism is a disability ➡ Reasonable adjustments in academic settings ➡ Making learning and teaching accessible for neurodivergent students, and creating systems for connecting with other neurodiverse people Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.   EPISODE LINKS: Daisy's website: https://www.daisyshearer.com/ Her blog: https://notesfromthephysicslab.com/ Neurodivergent in STEM: https://www.neurodivergentinstem.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notesfromthephysicslab/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuantumDaisy   If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website: https://squarepeg.community/    THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Caroline, Cat Preston, Corinne Cariad, Elise, Karawynn Long, Kate Faust, Katharine Richards, Katherine Lynch, Laurie Green, Lea Li, Lilli Simmons, Pete Burke, Sarah Hardy, Vera Cady If you’re enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from just £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast