EDI at the Biochemical Society: funding and support

Laura Woodland, Head of Membership Engagement at the Biochemical Society, shares some insights into why EDI is important to the Biochemical Society and talks about some of the grants and bursary funding available which aims to offer support for and participation in the molecular biosciences.

Please note that an update on The Biochemical Society’s EDI work has been published since this article and can be accessed here.

“Since joining the Biochemical Society in 2015, I have seen the organisation’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities in the molecular biosciences grow.  There has been a corresponding increase in the number of activities and initiatives, with the intention of supporting and broadening participation in the molecular biosciences. It is, therefore, no surprise that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activities form a key strand of the Biochemical Society’s Strategic Plan for 2019 – 2021. The Biochemical Society is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the molecular biosciences. We believe that a lack of diversity and inclusivity across the scientific community represents a loss of potential talent to the UK and beyond. As well as being an active member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health (EDIS) group, I also work with several other groups and other organisations to help drive equal opportunities in science careers for diverse minority groups.

Current activities include the implementation of a plan around inclusivity on our journal Editorial Boards. They will reconsider peer review practices to encourage greater diversity and equal opportunity and provide more opportunities for Early Career scientists to engage with our journals. The Society continues to work towards ensuring gender representation is well balanced by striving towards a 50:50 gender balance on its committees, for its award nominations and for event speakers. Whilst gender balance continues to be an important area of work, there is now a renewed focus on exploring ways to improve inclusivity in the molecular biosciences and our support for minoritised groups. We will look to build on our previous work, which has included supporting the LGBTQ+ STEM Day, contributing to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM’s inquiry into Equity in STEM Education, and supporting in2science with donations to fund their work, empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress to STEM and research careers through work placements and careers guidance. The Society has funded two Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships which support scientists returning to work after a career break and have published a series of blogs covering topics such as studying for a PhD whilst in the midst of a mental illness and imposter syndrome.  Another way in which we aim to provide support for and participation in the molecular biosciences is by providing several grants and bursaries. I’d like to tell you about two of these specific grants and bursaries and you can read more about the additional funding available from the Biochemical Society here.

In line with our Strategic Plan for 2019 – 2021, our Stay Connected Bursaries have recently been reviewed and renamed as Attendance Support Grants to better reflect the diverse needs of today’s members. These grants aim to help keep members up-to-date with the latest scientific developments and cover the cost of registration to the Biochemical Society’s scientific meetings, training events and courses. Members can apply for financial support towards accommodation, travel and/or care provision. Any member who requires additional support to attend a Biochemical Society event, is currently on a career break or who has recently returned to work can apply. Additional support can include, but is not limited to, caring responsibilities, funding a care giver/companion to support the member’s attendance or other requirements to support a disability. Our Attendance Support Grants recognise that science moves at a rapid pace and that staying informed of the latest developments is pivotal to a scientific career. We hope that these grants will make it easier for members to remain engaged with the science community. Applications can be made at any time of the year and must be received by the event’s early bird registration deadline.  For further information, please email: membership@biochemistry.org

Each year, we offer our Diversity in Science Grants which are awarded for projects, research or events which support and address issues relating to diversity in science. These grants of £500 are open to individuals, groups or not-for-profit organisations, including international applicants. Every year we are impressed with the breadth of projects in the applications we receive, which, in addition to spanning support for a range of minoritised groups, have included outreach projects, training events or conferences, and research projects. Last year, for example, we funded eight projects which included a podcast Querdy, an exhibition to highlight the work of BAME scientists which has previously been neglected and a project taking Science Outreach to specific language communities. These grants are awarded by our Policy team and will be accepting applications from 2 September to 18 October 2019. More information about the Diversity in Science Grants and how to apply can be found here.

As a Society we strive to review and update our EDI activities to enable us to continue to respond to emerging opportunities and challenges. We also seek to learn from, and work in collaboration, with external bodies where appropriate and feasible, and are happy to share our experience in order to support both our members and the wider molecular biosciences community.”