Episode 1: STEM and Disability - MIA Conversation with Emma Collington

This is another STEM Positive Disruptor: MIA conversation, showcasing special guest Emma Collington, a PhD student in molecular genetics and bioinformatics at the University of Waterloo, Ontario Canada. She lives with a genetic connective tissue disease caused by mutations in collagen and fibrillin, which results in her joints, organs, and blood vessels being too elastic. She also has a service dog called Marlowe Emma is co-founder with Samantha Fowler in setting up STEM with Disabilities, a visibility project, with the aim to connect people with disabilities in STEM internationally, and celebrate their achievements and contributions to their fields. Through STEM with Disabilities, they host The Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities annually. The next Ontario Summit is in February 2025. I describe Emma Collington, as bold and fearless in her mission to breakdown the stigma around disability of all kinds (acceptable and non-acceptable) and breakdown those barriers that has been created intentionally and unintentionally in the STEM environment of what they can and cannot do. My takeaway is the importance of making disability a norm in our conversation and having a community where you can share experience and support one another. If you like to support Emma Collington and know more about STEM with Disability: Website: https://www.stemwithdisabilities.com/ Summit: https://www.ontario-summit-for-students-with-disabilities.com/ Please listen to our conversation, https://youtu.be/NKS_w5aErhI If you do like the contents that we are producing, please support us @STEM.Positive.Disruptor by Like, Comment, share with your network and subscribe too, this is appreciated, so we can spread the word and bring positive change to our STEM world. Instagram:  @STEM.Positive.Disruptor  FaceBook: @MIA conversation with YouTube: @STEM.Positive.Disruptor  Twitter: @STEMPDisruptor Spotify:@MIA conversation with Thanks again for all your support, very much appreciated This platform is to Educate, Raise awareness, Demystify and Change Perception about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and make it more accessible to the public. Show the diversit