Clara Barker

{{short description|British engineer, material scientist, and LGBT advocate}}

{{Infobox academic

|name=Clara Barker

|nationality=British

|alma_mater=Manchester Metropolitan University

|image = Dr Clara M Barker PLD Lab.jpg

|alt = Barker standing in a laboratory, next to a large pulsed laser deposition tool.

|caption=Barker standing next to a pulsed laser deposition tool

|thesis_title=A New Route to high-Performance Functional Films on Polymeric Web

|workplaces=Centre for Applied Superconductivity at the University of Oxford

|titles=Technical Lab Manager

}}

Clara Michelle Barker is a British engineer and material scientist. In 2017 she received the Points of Light award from the UK Prime Minister's Office for her volunteer work raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/news/dr-clara-barker-recognised-by-prime-minister-for-her-lgbt-voluntary-work|title=Dr Clara Barker recognised by Prime Minister for her LGBT+ voluntary work — Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences Division|website=www.mpls.ox.ac.uk|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322110023/https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/news/dr-clara-barker-recognised-by-prime-minister-for-her-lgbt-voluntary-work|url-status=dead}} The outcome of this was her rise as a significant role model to the LGBT+ community.{{Cite web |title=Dr Clara Barker |url=https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-clara-barker |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=edu.admin.ox.ac.uk |language=en}}

Career and research

Barker completed her thesis on thin film coating at Manchester Metropolitan University.{{Cite thesis|last=Barker|first=Paul Michael|title=A new route to high-performance functional films on polymeric web|date=2012|degree=Ph.D.|publisher=Manchester Metropolitan University|url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do;jsessionid=51FC95B4BE3DDAEF38812E26BFF3EC42?uin=uk.bl.ethos.555834|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322110019/https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do;jsessionid=51FC95B4BE3DDAEF38812E26BFF3EC42?uin=uk.bl.ethos.555834|url-status=dead}} She then held a post-doctoral position at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) in Switzerland for four years,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/event/lgbt-101|title=LGBT+ 101 {{!}} University of Oxford|website=www.ox.ac.uk|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322110033/http://www.ox.ac.uk/event/lgbt-101|url-status=dead}} before she moved to the University of Oxford, where she manages the Centre for Applied Superconductivity within the Materials Department.{{Cite web|url=https://tedxlondon.com/attend/TEDxLondonWomen2018/speaker/Dr-Clara-Barker|title=Dr Clara Barker|website=TEDxLondon|language=en-GB|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112195140/https://tedxlondon.com/attend/TEDxLondonWomen2018/speaker/Dr-Clara-Barker|url-status=dead}}{{Cite journal |last=Glausiusz |first=Josie |date=2021-01-11 |title='I was no longer pretending or hiding': a trans scientist finds a lab to call home |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00024-z |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=589 |issue=7841 |pages=322 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-00024-z|pmid=33432179 |s2cid=231587768 |url-access=subscription }} Her current research focuses on creating thin film high temperature superconductors that could be used a resonators for quantum computing devices.{{Cite web |title=Advocacy, Inclusion and Unconventional Routes into Science: A Q&A with Dr. Clara Barker |url=https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/articles/advocacy-inclusion-and-unconventional-routes-into-science-a-qa-with-dr-clara-barker-385950 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Applied Sciences from Technology Networks |language=en}}

Barker is currently a Daphne Jackson Trust research fellow{{Cite web |title=Dr Clara Barker – Daphne Jackson Trust |url=https://daphnejackson.org/fellow/dr-clara-barker/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=daphnejackson.org}}{{Cite web |title=BEIS grant announcement tops off inclusivity celebration on LGBT+ STEM Day |url=https://www.rsc.org/news-events/articles/2022/nov/lgbt-celebration-beis-grant/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Royal Society of Chemistry |language=en-GB}} and Dean for equality and diversity at Linacre College.{{Cite web |title=LGBT+ History Month: the transformation of Dr Clara Barker |url=https://staff.admin.ox.ac.uk/article/the-transformation-of-dr-clara-barker |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=staff.admin.ox.ac.uk |language=en}} She is a member of the Royal Society Diversity and Inclusion Committee.{{Cite web |title=Committees, Working Groups, and Councils {{!}} Royal Society {{!}} Royal Society |url=https://royalsociety.org/sitecore/content/royal-society/configuration/Components/Api2/CommitteeDetailPage/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=royalsociety.org}} She was the vice-chair of the university's LGBT+ Advisory Group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/clara-barker|title=Clara Barker {{!}} TORCH|website=www.torch.ox.ac.uk|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112195549/https://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/clara-barker|archive-date=12 January 2019|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/28/oxford-professor-says-academic-freedom-threat-accused-running/|title=Oxford professor says 'academic freedom' is under threat after he is accused of running transphobic Twitter account|last=Quine|first=Oscar|date=28 October 2018|work=The Telegraph|access-date=12 January 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web|title=University of Oxford LGBT Advisory Group members list|url=https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/lgbt-advisory-group#collapse1079626|access-date=26 October 2020}} In 2023, she was featured in place of the Seven Sisters tube station in the Engineering Icons Tube Map.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=TfL Community |date=2023-11-01 |title=Engineering Icons Tube Map |url=https://londonblog.tfl.gov.uk/2023/11/01/engineering-icons-tube-map/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Experience London blog |language=en-GB}} In November 2023 she was appointed Inclusion and Diversity Representative by the Institute of Physics, taking over the position from Helen Gleeson.{{Cite web |last=Institute of Physics |date=7 November 2023 |title=Dr Clara Barker appointed IOP Inclusion and Diversity Representative |url=https://www.iop.org/about/news/dr-clara-barker-appointed-iop-inclusion-diversity-rep#gref |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109101827/https://www.iop.org/about/news/dr-clara-barker-appointed-iop-inclusion-diversity-rep#gref |archive-date=9 November 2023 |access-date=9 November 2023 |website=Institute of Physics}}

LGBT+ advocacy

Barker is a transgender woman and an advocate for LGBT+ diversity and women in STEM.{{Cite web|url=https://allevents.in/oxford/dr-clara-barker-why-diversity-is-important-in-stem/150535795616979|title=Dr Clara Barker - Why Diversity is Important in STEM|website=allevents.in|language=en|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322110019/https://allevents.in/oxford/dr-clara-barker-why-diversity-is-important-in-stem/150535795616979|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2018/10/03/a-cup-of-coffee-with-dr-clara-barker-trans-scientist-prominent-lgbt-campaigner-and-recipient-of-the-points-of-light-award/|title=A cup of coffee with Dr Clara Barker: trans scientist, prominent LGBT+ campaigner and recipient of the Points of Light award|last=Whitfield|first=Francesca|date=3 October 2018|website=The Oxford Student|language=en-GB|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://gogirloxford.org/2018/03/13/session-29-making-it-as-a-woman-in-stem-a-visit-from-dr-clara-barker/|title=Session 29: Making it as a woman in STEM – a visit from Dr Clara Barker|last=izzy256|date=13 March 2018|language=en|access-date=12 January 2019}} She works with a youth group in Oxfordshire, TOPAZ.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/out-in-oxford/|title=Out in Oxford|date=5 October 2017|website=Points of Light|language=en-GB|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=James |date=2018-10-03 |title=A cup of coffee with Dr Clara Barker: trans scientist, prominent LGBT+ campaigner and recipient of the Points of Light award |url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2018/10/03/a-cup-of-coffee-with-dr-clara-barker-trans-scientist-prominent-lgbt-campaigner-and-recipient-of-the-points-of-light-award/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=The Oxford Student |language=en-GB}} She has also spoken local schools on behalf of Stonewall and has helped Oxford City Council run an anti-HBT bullying initiative.{{Cite web|title=Dr Clara Barker recognised by Prime Minister for her LGBT+ voluntary work — Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division|url=https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/latest/news/dr-clara-barker-recognised-by-prime-minister-for-her-lgbt-voluntary-work|access-date=2021-02-28|website=www.mpls.ox.ac.uk|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705024947/https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/latest/news/dr-clara-barker-recognised-by-prime-minister-for-her-lgbt-voluntary-work|url-status=dead}} In 2017, she was featured in a Stonewall poster campaign for Trans Day of Visibility. She also led the promotion of the Out in Oxford project, a project which highlights LGBT+ artefacts in museums.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glam.ox.ac.uk/out-oxford|title=Out in Oxford {{!}} Gardens, Libraries & Museums|website=www.glam.ox.ac.uk|access-date=12 January 2019}} She has given numerous talks on LGBT+ visibility and diversity in STEM. In December 2018 Barker gave a TEDx talk entitled "Why we need to build trust to create diversity in institutions".{{Cite web|title=TEDxLondonWomen 2018|url=http://tedxlondon.com/attend/TEDxLondonWomen2018/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=TEDxLondon|language=en-GB|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120163933/https://tedxlondon.com/attend/TEDxLondonWomen2018/|url-status=dead}} She has also appeared on BBC Victoria Derbyshire and Sky News talking about transgender rights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/03/05/journalist-insists-she-isnt-anti-trans-believes-trans-women-should-not-have-access-to-women-only-services/|title=Journalist insists she isn't anti-trans, believes trans women should not have access to women-only services - PinkNews · PinkNews|website=www.pinknews.co.uk|date=5 March 2018|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1019961217274834944|title=Feminists and trans activists clash over gender recognition|work=Sky News|date=19 July 2018}}

Barker has received several awards for her advocacy. In 2017 she was the 795th person to receive the Points of Light award for her work with Out in Oxford her other volunteering. Her belief is that role models are necessary in all aspects of life. Her representation in STEM has been pivotal for following generations to follow in her footsteps.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-23 |title=You Can Be Yourself And Be A Scientist Too |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lgbt-science_uk_5a8ef065e4b0746ba2acf7e5 |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}

In 2018, she won the staff Individual Champion/Role Model award in the Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Awards from the University of Oxford.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/about/oxford-people/vice-chancellors-diversity-awards|title=Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Awards {{!}} University of Oxford|website=www.ox.ac.uk|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{Cite web|title=Winners announced of Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Awards 2018|date=9 May 2018 |url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2018-05-09-winners-announced-vice-chancellors-diversity-awards}}