Equality, diversity, and inclusion are essential components of scientific quality. Science Europe works to promote a research ecosystem where all scholars can realise their potential regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, ethnic origin, or social background.
Diversity leads to better research and can be a major resource for scientific excellence. All researchers should be enabled to realise their full potential and rewarded for the quality of their scholarly contributions, independently of their gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disabilities, ethnic origin, or social background. Research organisations have a crucial role to play in addressing inequality, not only for the benefit of the science ecosystem, but to contribute to progress in wider society.
To ensure that their research processes are fair, Science Europe’s Member Organisations aim to scrutinise their activities against any form of bias. To that end, they seek to avoid unconscious bias in peer review processes, monitor progress towards gender equality, and improve grant management practices. There is an increased realisation that gender inequality can affect the design and content of research itself. An increasing number of research organisations require researchers to integrate or specify the sex and gender dimensions in the research they fund or perform.
Science Europe actively collaborates with other relevant initiatives, institutional groups, and stakeholders to further promote equality in the research ecosystem. The association currently co-chairs the Global Research Council’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group (EDI WG) alongside the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) where it promotes research policies promoting equality and the integration of the gender and sex dimensions in the content and design of research.
The group released a survey report on gender-disaggregated data; this landmark study provides an opportunity for benchmarking and a better understanding of the needs of different research systems.
Research organisations have a crucially important role to play in addressing gender inequality; not only for the benefit of their own ecosystem, but to contribute to progress in wider society. This practical guide sets out good practice examples and guides the further development of context specific approaches including how to avoid unconscious bias in peer review processes, how to monitor gender equality, and how to improve grant management practises.
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2023 proved to be another landmark year for Science Europe: building on the achievements of the previous year and setting the direction for new approaches in vital areas of research policy.
In the run up to the European Parliament Elections on 6-9 June 2024, Science Europe has launched our 'Vote for Science' Campaign advocating for political support for science research in the EU legislative agenda of the next 5 years. As part of our campaign, we've created a factsheet offering a look at the state of science research in Europe, to help voters in understanding how we are doing in supporting science across the areas of our 5 Pledges for Candidates.
In celebration of the of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science and the UN International Day of Women , Science Europe launched the Women in Science Campaign.
Science Europe’s new ‘Practical Guide to Supporting Diversity in Research Environments’ highlights key findings from a membership survey conducted in 2023, showcases good practices, and provides practical recommendations across topics such as positive action measures and the collection and use of diversity data.
In 2022, Science Europe made significant contributions in various areas, including research culture, research assessment, open science, EU framework programmes, the green and digital transition, and science communication.
Science Europe's 2022 Annual Report highlights the most important achievements of 2022 on Science Europe’s priority topics, including research culture, research assessment, open science, EU framework programmes, the green and digital transition, and science communication.
Gender equality and diversity are essential components of scientific quality. Science Europe works to promote a research ecosystem where all scholars can realise their potential regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, ethnic origin, or social background.
On the occasion of the 2023 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and International Women's Day, Science Europe highlights the experiences of the women Chairs of its Working Groups.
For Science Europe, 2021 was a very important year: the association celebrated its 10th year of existence. Founded in 2011, it has grown into a respected and influential voice in the European research policy debate. Moreover, we published a new Strategy Plan for 2021–2026, which maps our collective objectives and sets a specific yet flexible action framework over the next five years.
On 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science took place. Members of the Science Europe Governing Board spoke out in support of gender equality in the research system.