The Biochemical Society has released a progress update following its 2024 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Data Survey, which was designed to gather community feedback on areas for continued focus and improvement.
Responses to the survey identified five core themes, each now informing specific initiatives across the Society’s activities. The update outlines developments in each of these areas.
Engagement with underrepresented young people and widening STEM access: The Society has established partnerships with organizations such as the Afro-Caribbean Commercial Science Network (ACCSN) and BioSci Toolkit to promote STEM opportunities among underrepresented groups. A collaborative webinar with ACCSN, titled Bridging gaps for underrepresented young minds, was held in April 2025. Ongoing collaboration with In2Science has supported summer placements, with opportunities for event registrants to donate to the initiative. Additionally, a student micro-placement is being hosted in partnership with City, University of London.
Support for women and underrepresented groups pursuing senior roles: A new partnership with the Daphne Jackson Trust has been formed to promote resources and career opportunities, particularly for individuals returning from career breaks. Planned interviews during summer 2025 will feature profiles of women in science, including those with non-traditional paths or caring responsibilities.
Improving diversity within governance and leadership: An anonymized nominations process, first introduced for governance roles, has been extended to all Editorial Board recruitment as of February 2025. Exploratory work on a Trustee mentoring scheme has also been undertaken, with implementation targeted for 2026.
Accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities: An EDI statement for Society events was developed in 2024, outlining commitments to accessibility and inclusive delivery. A dedicated project group has been formed to assess website accessibility, with ongoing improvements to digital processes underway.
Support for mid-career professionals: The Society is assessing options for offering coaching and related resources to mid-career members, with consideration being given to involving the Emeritus community in these efforts.
The Society confirmed that its EDI work will continue into 2025 and beyond. A new round of data collection is scheduled for Spring 2025 to guide future initiatives over the next 12 months.
Click here to read the original press release.
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