Leading Routes “is a pioneering initiative that aims to prepare the next generation of Black academics ” with the aim of strengthening the academic pipeline for black students, from a Black-led perspective. They have recently launched a new series of events that will help prepare academics for a career in academia by connecting to them with industry professionals. The series covers a number of vital topics such as how to get published, alternative careers in academia and research and how to win grants in STEM, the arts, humanities and the social sciences.

The first event in the series will be held on May 19th, 1pm BST and is called “Getting Published: A roadmap to journals and academic book publishing”. Speakers include Dr Madeleine Kennedy-Macfoy at Education International & European Journal of Women’s Studies; Delayna Spencer, Senior Commissioning Editor for Education at SAGE Publishing; and Justine Hope, Senior Publishing Editor at SAGE Publishing. The event will cover three main points:

• Introductory guidance on academic journal publishing

• How should you approach academic book publishers?

• What happens after publishing?

SAGE Publishing has been a supporter of Leading Routes’ events and activities in order to help create a more equitable pipeline for Black academics. We think it is important that academic publishers acknowledge their role in these inequities and provide support for initiatives that are dedicated to addressing this imbalance, through information sharing, material support or providing space for such events. To understand more about this problem, read Leading Routes’ Broken Pipeline report on the barriers to accessing Research Council funding for Black PhD students here.

If you’re interested in other events in the careers series, please share with Black colleagues and students, and register here:

Rethinking Post-PhD Careers: Alternative paths in academia and research (June 16)

Writing winning grants for STEM (July 7)

Writing winning grants for arts, humanities & social sciences (July 14)

You can stay up to date about Leading Routes’ work and events by following @LeadingRoutes or @SAGE_Publishing on Twitter.