Our work to improve inclusion, diversity, accessibility and culture in the chemical sciences
Chemistry should be for everyone
We recognise the importance of valuing all members of our community; we believe that for the chemical sciences to prosper, they must attract, develop and retain a diverse range of talented people.
As a professional and membership body, and a leading voice for the chemistry community, we have a responsibility to promote inclusivity and accessibility in order to improve diversity.
In the following pages, you can read about our influential and wide-ranging work to make chemistry more welcoming to everyone. You will find original research, toolkits and guidelines, and global collaborations covering gender, race and ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and beyond.
Our studies, findings and reports
Disability in the chemical sciences
Chemistry should be welcoming and accessible to everyone. But, all too often, the experiences of disabled chemists and chemistry students are shaped by stigma and discrimination. There is a pervasive lack of awareness and understanding of disability and accessibility throughout the chemical sciences sector.
Disabled employees often have to self-advocate for the adjustments they need to work comfortably and effectively. But, if organisations and institutions planned environments and processes with inclusion in mind, many barriers would be reduced or eliminated.
We share what we have learnt from those in our community with experience of disability. And we provide suggestions for how organisations and institutions can improve disability inclusion.
Neurodiversity
In our member survey this year, 26% of our members who self-identified as disabled said they were neurodivergent. Enabling these chemists to utilise their unique strengths and ways of thinking and working entails embracing our community's neurodiversity, and is crucial for innovation and progress in the chemical sciences.
Find out how simple adjustments, accommodations and understanding can break down potential barriers and allow neurodivergent individuals to reach their full potential.
Our Outreach Fund impact report
2020 - 2022
Our Outreach Fund provides opportunities for communities to engage and identify with the chemical sciences. And, according to our new report, the fund makes a difference to participants, chemistry-using professionals, outreach professionals and organisations. Read more to find out what we’re doing to improve the fund further, and how you can take part.
A vision for a great science culture
Science culture is defined by the conduct, practices and approaches of individuals, groups and organisations. We envision a science culture that supports an open, inclusive and enabling community for the benefit of everyone. It presents the behaviours and attitudes we value in science and sets out a common direction that everybody can take action on.
Racial and ethnic inequalities in chemistry
Our findings show talented Black chemists leave the profession at every stage of their career path after undergraduate studies. People from Black and minoritised ethnicities are underrepresented at senior levels in industry and academia. We need to talk about and address racism, discrimination and inequality in the chemical sciences. Read our report.
Is publishing in the chemical sciences gender biased?
The publication of research articles and the number of citations that articles gather are established markers of scientific success, so we carried out the first in-depth gender analysis of each stage of the publication process.
The workplace for LGBT+ physical scientists
In partnership with the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society, we conducted a survey to gather data from across the community – giving us new insights into the current workplace environment for LGBT+ physical scientists.
Black representation in academic chemistry
We analysed Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data focusing on ethnicity and particularly Black representation in chemistry. The data shows that there is an under-representation of ethnic minorities and there is a clear retention problem.
Belonging in the chemical sciences
We commissioned the first ever study of chemical scientists’ lived experiences of belonging in the chemical sciences. Chemists highlighted four aspects, four barriers, and five enablers of belonging in the chemical sciences.
Is chemistry accessible for all?
In this five-year outreach study we set out to explore, understand and address barriers to participation in post-16 UK chemistry education by students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We focused our study on four main themes. Read the results.
Women's retention and progression in chemical sciences
Through a major survey, interviews and focus groups, we've gathered data showing talented women leave the academic sector before reaching their full potential or, are not progressing to senior grades in the same proportion as their male peers. Read our report "Breaking the Barriers".
Improving the culture in scholarly publishing
In our Joint commitment for action on inclusion and diversity in publishing, we have brought together 54 publishing organisations. See who has signed up and find out about our work so far:
