- Qualifications:BSc (Hons), PGCE, MSc
- Position:Research Associate
- Department:School of Engineering
- Email:Sarah.Behenna@uwe.ac.uk
-
Social media:
About me
Sarah Behenna works in the Science Communication Unit at UWE Bristol, where she develops and delivers communication, engagement and research projects across the College of Health, Science and Society and the College of Arts, Technology and Environment. Her work focuses on widening participation, inclusive practice and evidence-informed approaches to engagement in science, engineering and sustainability.
At UWE, Sarah co-ordinates a number of high-impact programmes, including Women Like Me, which support women in engineering and construction through mentoring, training and outreach, with a particular focus on degree apprenticeships. She also co-ordinates Engineering for Sustainable Societies, a Royal Academy of Engineering-funded project using creative approaches such as Minecraft to engage underrepresented children with engineering and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and contributes to the Green Futures programme and other externally funded initiatives. Her work involves partnership development, training delivery, evaluation, academic outputs and grant applications, working closely with colleagues across academic and professional services, employers, schools and community organisations.
Before joining UWE, Sarah worked for several years at Women in Science and Engineering (WISE). During this time, she managed the STEM Accord Programme, a national partnership between WISE, STEM Learning, Smallpeice Trust, the Design & Technology Association and the ERA Foundation, established to promote a coordinated approach to improving participation and skills across the STEM pipeline. She also co-developed WISE’s flagship outreach programme My Skills My Life, which has engaged over 200,000 girls nationally with STEM careers.
Earlier in her career, Sarah worked as a secondary school science teacher and a special educational needs teacher in specialist settings. This experience gave her a strong grounding in inclusive practice, safeguarding, and tailoring engagement to meet diverse needs, as well as aligning educational activity with the national curriculum and the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Outside of her university role, Sarah continues her commitment to equity and inclusion as Chair of Governors at Avonmouth Primary School, where she provides strategic oversight including safeguarding and staffing, and as a La Leche League Leader, supporting families through inclusive, community-based peer support.
Publications
Publications loading...