Dr Jen Remnant, Department of Work, Employment and Organisation, has led on a series of events with co-investigator Dr Tariq Masood from Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management, Faculty of Engineering, funded by internal NERC Cross-disciplinary Research for Discovery Science Funding.
The purpose of the series is to explore opportunities for connection between colleagues in the two departments regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the opportunities it represents for inclusive work. 4IR, or Industry 4.0, as Fourth Industrial Revolution is also known, is the idea that rapid changes to technology, industry, societal patterns and processes in the 21st century resulting from interconnectivity and smart automation will, over time, irreversibly alter the workplace.
The workshops were designed to recognise that disabled people represent an important, but under-represented stakeholder within these changes. The digitisation of communication and interpersonal interactions, improvements in technology and, more recently, the increase in remote and hybrid working has changed the employment landscape for disabled people, including disabled scientists/robotics experts.
The first workshop was held on March 7 and focused on the ‘tools’ of IR4 robotics and how technological development can, could or will alter the nature of work, and the working environment. Professor Sir Jim McDonald opened the event which included speakers from within the University of Strathclyde, as well as speakers from Cambridge and Heriot-Watt.
The second workshop was held on March 13 and focused on the priorities of disabled people in relation to the technologisation of contemporary workplaces and the promotion of full economic participation of disabled workers. It included delegates from industry partners and Scottish Government.
A further online workshop will take place on April 27 to maintain momentum in terms of inclusive/emancipatory robotics and further grant application.