How we are improving inclusion and diversity and how to get involved
Broadening Horizons programme
Broadening Horizons in the Chemical Sciences is a new three-year pilot to support chemistry students and graduates from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds to pursue careers in chemistry.
Relevant events
We hold many events both in person and online to discuss and encourage equality and diversity in science. Find out what is happening soon and how to register.
Inclusion and Diversity Prize
Awarded biennially to an individual or team to recognise their contribution and impact in improving the accessibility, inclusivity and diversity of the chemical science community.
Inclusion and Diversity Committee
The purpose of this committee, whose members represent the diversity within our community, is to promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity and ensure we make significant progress in this area.
Inclusion and diversity forum
We will hear from participants of our new programmes addressing racial and ethnic inequalities (Destination STEMM – Chemical Sciences and Broadening Horizons in the Chemical Sciences), and highlight our recent work in improving the inclusion of disabled chemists.
Celebrating black history month
This webinar recognises and celebrates Black individuals and their contributions to chemistry. We also showcase the importance to continue building on these achievements while recognising that firm action is needed to eradicate the barriers of racism and discrimination in chemistry.
Our collaborations
We are involved in several ongoing collaborations with WISE, the campaign for gender balance in STEM. Last year we ran a joint event called ‘Advancing the gender pay gap’. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we joined WISE and 20 other organisations in signing a joint statement, and are now pooling our resources in order to continue to drive gender equality – which is needed now more than ever.
We support the Daphne Jackson fellowship scheme, a unique fellowship designed to return STEM professionals to their careers after a break. Fellows normally carry out their research part-time over 2 years, in a university or research establishment in the UK. The Fellowships are flexible and include a tailored training programme designed to update skills and knowledge and support you in your return to research.
In collaboration with the IOP and the Royal Astronomical Society, we formed the “LGBT+ physical sciences network”, a mailing list and network of LGBT+ scientists and allies in the fields of physics, astronomy and chemistry and associated sciences.
We surveyed the LGBT+ community in the physical sciences to collect evidence of what the current climate is like for LGBT+ physical scientists in the UK and Ireland. The online survey collected data from those working, teaching or studying in a physical sciences field who identify as LGBT+ or allies. The results of the study will be published in early 2019.
We are members of the Athena Forum, an independent committee established to inform the wider debate on diversity in STEMM. The current focus of the committee is on workload allocation models in higher education.
We are members of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine Disability Advisory Committee (STEMM-DAC), a cross-STEMM collaborative group of professional bodies and learned societies that promotes inclusion of disabled people in STEMM education and employment.
Science Council and Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity and Inclusion Progression Framework
We are actively using the Progression Framework to benchmark and advance inclusion and diversity within our own organisation. We are members of the Progression Framework steering group.
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
We are sponsors and supporters of this All-Party Parliamentary Group that aims to promote the inclusion and progression of people from diverse backgrounds in STEM, and to encourage government, parliamentarians, academics, businesses and other stakeholders to work towards a STEM sector that is representative of the population.