CSPC 2018

The added value to Canadian science of embracing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is increasingly being identified by policy-makers, funding organizations, the post-secondary education sector and other parts of the scientific research & development eco-system as an economic imperative. Fully leveraging the talent pool, the human capital and the diversity opportunity that exists in Canada is also a key element in developing and maintaining a stronger innovation ecosystem. Strategies designed to promote and embrace EDI in all aspects of Canadian science currently exist or are in development at various levels. For instance, the federal government, through the tri-councils, has created explicit criteria relating to EDI
expectations and requirements (particularly relating to the four designated groups under the Employment Equity Act) for a number of programs including, but not limited to, the Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) and Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERCs) (see http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/equity-equite/index-eng.aspx).

Canadian universities, through Universities Canada, have made explicit commitments to implementing principles of EDI (https://www.univcan.ca/priorities/equity-diversity-inclusion/) although details are vague. Moreover, in the recent federal budget  (https://www.budget.gc.ca/2018/home-accueil-en.html) significant new investments in science were framed by expectations for the development of programming (e.g. AthenaSWAN, ADVANCE) that would support the implementation of policies and processes to increase and improve EDI within Canadian science. While these initiatives all speak to a commitment to embracing EDI in science, the reality is that moving from policy to implementation is currently challenged by the low levels of awareness and education around EDI theory and practice within the scientific community. There are limited interactions between the scientific community and academic EDI experts and a general lack of understanding of best practices, which, when combined with inertia and pushback from some parts of the community may limit the effective integration of EDI into Canadian science. Therefore, it is imperative that the scientific community and all stakeholders are actively engaged in the development and implementation of well-designed, data-driven, evidence-informed approaches that raise awareness, drive education, define actions and achieve measurable outcomes that integrate EDI into the scientific enterprise in Canada.

This interactive symposium will bring together experts and practitioners to lead a dialogue on the current state of our understanding of EDI in science in Canada and to provide specific actionable approaches which will help individuals, departments, divisions, faculties, research institutes, scientific societies and conferences, and others, move from policy to implementation of EDI principles.