Reflections from the EDIS Symposium 2019

Biochemical Society

The Biochemical Society was delighted to support the EDIS Symposium 2019. As a Learned Society we work with partners across the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) related issues. Within my experience, the focus of efforts and discussion aiming to improve EDI and representation in STEM has often focussed on the researchers, rather than the research itself. The theme of the EDIS Symposium 2019 “Inclusive Research and Experimental Design” approached inclusion from a different focus, putting research at its centre and with discussions throughout the day also highlighting how the two are inextricably linked.

Technology and data science are changing the way we do research, in healthcare as much as other sectors, and it is imperative that the community begin to address data and participation gaps now to minimise the risk of them growing and minimise the potential for bias. In addition to describing the problems that exist, several speakers (including Katherine Cowan and Anya Harry, amongst others) addressed how participation and inclusion can be widened and, in particular, that the onus should be on the researchers and health professionals to make their work inclusive, rather than on public participants to include themselves. Raised in the discussion panel on Diversity in Clinical Trials was the need for cross-sector efforts, particularly looking at how social inequality is linked to and can exacerbate other health inequalities, participation and science capital.

Working as a bridge between Biochemical Society members (mostly researchers and students) and policy-makers, we often work to highlight the importance of evidence-based policy making, but that evidence must be representative to start with. Ultimately, as was raised in the first session of the day, it comes down to whose voice is heard in how research is prioritised, directed and enacted on, which will inevitably then impact the equity of research outcomes.

In preparation for the Symposium, considerable thought and effort was made by EDIS into measures to make the event as inclusive as possible. Results of this addition effort were noticeable in the resulting atmosphere of the symposium; certainly, more comfortable and inclusive than other meetings I’ve attended. Notably, many of the interventions could be easily applied elsewhere. As the organiser of scientific meetings, the Biochemical Society is in the position to introduce and share some of these inclusion measures at our own meetings, in addition to those that we already use. As an example, we are in the process of introducing a Code of Conduct for all Society events, based on that developed ahead of the EDIS Symposium[1]. We hope that the introduction of this Code of Conduct will mean that delegates feel able to contribute to our events without feeling uncomfortable participating. Broadly, it is encouraging to see the community beginning to make changes, such as the use of pronoun stickers becoming more widespread and blog posts around inclusivity in meetings[2] or presentations[3], as the sharing and exemplifying of good practice will help widen change.

Overall, the Symposium topic, talks and the inclusion measures implemented fully demonstrated the importance of embedding inclusion throughout research and associated research activities, rather than as an added afterthought. Crucially, discussions at the symposium and measures taken by EDIS showed how this can be achieved and how doing so can improve research outputs.

[1]. EDIS Symposium 2019 Code of Conduct (safe space policy)
[2]. https://wellcome.ac.uk/news/how-were-making-our-researcher-meetings-more-inclusive
[3]. https://www.physoc.org/magazine-articles/do-you-see-what-i-see-viewing-the-world-through-the-prism-of-colour-blindness/

Hannah Macdonald has been Policy and Public Affairs Officer at the Biochemical Society since January 2019. Prior to this, she completed her PhD in biophysics and a short post-doctoral position in at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.