EDI Strategy:

From January 2022, the first EMBL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy entered into force. It provides EMBL with four EDI priority areas, specific actions and targets for the coming five years.

Gender Equality Plan:

In January 2022 the EDI Office published its first Gender Equality Plan (GEP), for the period 2022-2026. The GEP draws from EMBL’s wider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy which envisions a more inclusive research and work culture that leverages diversity, in its broadest sense, to enhance EMBL’s role as a leader in the life sciences in Europe and globally. By embedding Gender Equality principles into EMBL’s culture, we want to ensure that women feel included, thrive, and develop a strong sense of belonging at EMBL. EMBL’s intersectional approach to Gender Equality, through the collection of diversity data, is just one of the many initiatives that will enable us to build a more inclusive and modern workplace as well as hold EMBL accountable and committed to Gender Equality. While working closely with key departments, such as HR and other relevant units, we will ensure that processes, policies and systems provide equal opportunities for women to progress and achieve leadership roles.

Leadership and Excellence for Aspiring Postdocs:

The 1st cohort of the LEAP programme had their final networking event in November 2022, where LEAP participants and the mentors assigned as part of the LEAP programme were brought together in Heidelberg for a day of networking, included a workshop to reflect on their experiences with the programme, and how they intended to move forward since the programmes conclusion.

A second round of the LEAP programme was launched on International Women’s Day in March 2022, with funding from Eppendorf and individual donors: Alev Baur and Ursula Blaum. The programme began in summer of 2022, and is currently ongoing.

EDI Workshops:

Over 2022 the EDI Office began the process of developing EDI training materials, to be delivered by the EDI Office, for the whole spectrum of EMBL personnel. This included creating an introductory workshop, designed to be delivered to EMBL newcomers, and to those with no prior training in EDI areas. This also included developing materials to be delivered to specific teams, which were tailored to the needs of that team and the EDI concerns and training they already had.

EDI at EMBL – Predoc Workshop:

In December  2022, the EDI Office delivered an interactive presentation and discussion session to the incoming EMBL predoctoral group. This included an introduction to EDI definitions and terminology, an overview of EMBLs current EDI structure, Strategy and other activities, and a discussion of bias as it relates to the working environment. This workshop is also intended to be delivered as part of future induction programmes at EMBL.

Tailored EDI Workshops:

Starting from November 2022, the EDI Office is also offering tailored workshops for existing teams at EMBL. A version of this was originally offered to the HR teams at EBI and in Heidelberg, and in mid-November for the Comms team. The EDI Office welcomes requests from teams across EMBL to create workshops tailored to their unique EDI needs.

EDI Collection in the Library:

EDI Office has collaborated with the EMBL Library to start the collection of EDI-related titles within Szilard Library in Heidelberg. The collection focuses on the intersection of EDI with science and people management. It now has more than 25 books and will continue expanding in 2023.

EDI Events:

The EDI Office ran five events in 2022, including events for International Day of Women and Girls in Science, International Women’s Day, and PRIDE month.

The EDI Office also arranged for a workshop on Neurodiversity to be delivered by Professor Amanda Kirby in February 2022. This workshop examined perceptions of neurodiversity, and was intended to provide information and tools for EMBL personnel to better understand how workplaces can be unwelcoming for neurodiverse people, and how we can change this through addressing our approaches to the workplace. This included a section of ‘strategies to help’ both the individual themselves, and more broadly to adapt the environment.

Collaborations:

EMBL EDI Officers continue to collaborate with the EIROForum Equality and Diversity Working Group, and with EDIS (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health).