After nearly 18 months of planning, collaboration, and passion, I’m absolutely thrilled to share that the RACI x Rebel Girls project is officially live — and freely accessible to our members and the public!
Many of you will have heard us mention this project over the past year and a half as we worked behind the scenes to bring it to life. This initiative is a powerful collaboration between the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and Rebel Girls, the global brand known for celebrating and empowering young audiences through storytelling.
Together, we’ve created a collection of inspiring stories that shine a light on women with disabilities in STEM — trailblazers whose curiosity, courage, and creativity have shaped the world around us. Through these stories, we hope to show young people that there’s a place for everyone in STEM.
The stories are now available for free through the RACI website, and I encourage all RACI members to explore them and share them widely — in classrooms, community spaces, and with the young people in your lives.
A Message of Thanks
This project has been a true labour of love, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support and collaboration of so many people.
I’d like to give special thanks to Margaret Hartley, Co-Chair of RACI’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee (2023–2025), who played an instrumental role in helping to secure significant sponsorship and support for this project. Her leadership, persistence, patience (!!) and deep commitment to inclusion have been invaluable at every stage.
My heartfelt thanks also go to our Board and to RACI CEO, Shenal Basnayake, for their unwavering support of this initiative and for their trust to deliver something meaningful and lasting for our community.
And finally, a huge thank you to our incredible sponsors and partners who have made this project possible:
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Principal Government Partner: The Australian Government Department of Industry, Science & Resources
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Principal Higher Education Partner: Swinburne University of Technology
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Partners: The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, and Deakin University
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Supporters: Queensland University of Technology and CSIRO
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International Supporter: The Royal Society of Chemistry, through their Inclusion & Diversity Fund
Explore and Share
You can explore the RACI x Rebel Girls stories today on the RACI's website here— available for free, for everyone. I hope you’ll take the time to read and share them, helping us to celebrate these remarkable role models and inspire the next generation of chemists.
This project represents the very best of what we can achieve together — when STEM, storytelling, and inclusion come together to make a difference.
Warm regards,
Hannah McCarthy
Education & Outreach Manager
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
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