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Two women and a man in the midst of animated discussion in a library: woman in focus in the centre gesturing while other two figures look at her
Two women and a man in the midst of animated discussion in a library: woman in focus in the centre gesturing while other two figures look at her © kali9

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion are essential components of scientific quality. Science Europe works to promote a research ecosystem where all scholars can realise their potential regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, ethnic origin, or social background.

Why do equality, diversity, and inclusion matter?

Diversity leads to better research and can be a major resource for scientific excellence. All researchers should be enabled to realise their full potential and rewarded for the quality of their scholarly contributions, independently of their gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disabilities, ethnic origin, or social background. Research organisations have a crucial role to play in addressing inequality, not only for the benefit of the science ecosystem, but to contribute to progress in wider society.

What are research organisations doing to address equality, diversity, and inclusion?

To ensure that their research processes are fair, Science Europe’s Member Organisations aim to scrutinise their activities against any form of bias. To that end, they seek to avoid unconscious bias in peer review processes, monitor progress towards gender equality, and improve grant management practices. There is an increased realisation that gender inequality can affect the design and content of research itself. An increasing number of research organisations require researchers to integrate or specify the sex and gender dimensions in the research they fund or perform.

The Global Research Council's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group

Science Europe actively collaborates with other relevant initiatives, institutional groups, and stakeholders to further promote equality in the research ecosystem. The association currently co-chairs the Global Research Council’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group (EDI WG) alongside the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) where it promotes research policies promoting equality and the integration of the gender and sex dimensions in the content and design of research.

The group released a survey report on gender-disaggregated data; this landmark study provides an opportunity for benchmarking and a better understanding of the needs of different research systems.

As part of its 2021–2025 strategy, the EDI WG focuses on several key issues, in particular harassment, integrating gender in research content, and further actions on gender-disaggregated data. It aims to also publish guidelines on addressing bullying and harassment in research.
06.02.2017

Practical Guide to Improving Gender Equality in Research Organisations

Research organisations have a crucially important role to play in addressing gender inequality; not only for the benefit of their own ecosystem, but to contribute to progress in wider society. This practical guide sets out good practice examples and guides the further development of context specific approaches including how to avoid unconscious bias in peer review processes, how to monitor gender equality, and how to improve grant management practises.

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