In 2022, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) pledged to pioneer its approach to enhancing the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of talented individuals within the bioscience research and innovation community.
With strong foundations now in place to help nurture a more inclusive and representative bioscience ecosystem, BBSRC is excited to announce two initiatives that reflect a whole new approach to research culture.
Pioneering research culture connectivity
BBSRC’s eight strategically supported institutes are a vital component of the UK’s bioscience research and innovation ecosystem.
Spanning the length and breadth of the UK, they represent an interconnected network of capabilities fundamental to advancing UK bioscience research.
The Connecting Culture Fund
Four institutes have received a strategic investment from BBSRC’s new Connecting Culture Fund.
Now, they are drawing upon their deep connections, along with their individual skills and expertise, to solidify their role as leaders for improving research culture.
Through the Connecting Culture initiative, leading institutes aim to promote a strong ethos of learning, best practice and knowledge exchange across the biosciences focused on three critical areas:
- evidence and reporting
- mentoring
- neurodiversity
Addressing under-representation
In an effort to tackle under-representation within the biosciences, BBSRC’s second new initiative is a unique pilot designed to enhance engagement among minoritised groups across five well-established research networks.
Five projects have each received a share of more than £450,000 to help strengthen existing networks.
The aim of the investment is to deliver greater impact by better understanding the lived experiences of specific minoritised groups and identifying solutions to overcome the challenges faced.
The projects funded under this initiative aim to:
- enhance EDI within the Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN)
- promote equity for women, low-income classes and carers in BioImagingUK and Physics of Life networks
- advance diversity in biofilm research and innovation
- elevate marginalised voices in the Agri-food for Net Zero Network+ through EDI co-design
- empower the UK wheat community to achieve gender parity
Building on diverse activities
Bringing about meaningful change to our research culture cannot rely on funding alone.
These latest initiatives build upon a multitude of other activities that we continue to progress across BBSRC, including:
- working with our researcher and research technical professional communities to foster team science representation within our peer review processes
- supporting more inclusive research environments by embedding requirements into new research network grants
- ensuring research culture and EDI best practice features in BBSRC’s daily work through staff training and networking
A commitment to change
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, said:
We are immensely proud of the strides we have taken to enhance BBSRC’s research culture.
These initiatives not only foster a more inclusive and diverse bioscience community but also strengthen the UK’s leadership in global research and innovation.
By investing in crucial areas like neurodiversity, mentoring and metrics, we are ensuring that our talented ecosystem remains at the cutting edge of scientific innovation and societal impact.
Expanding leadership in research culture
Recruitment is actively underway for new members of BBSRC’s EDI Expert Advisory Group (EAG), with Professor Candy Rowe accepting the role of Chair for an additional year.
This group plays a crucial role in steering BBSRC’s EDI action plan and ensuring that our initiatives continue to lead in fostering an inclusive bioscience community.
Enriching UK bioscience
Professor Candy Rowe, Chair of BBSRC’s EDI EAG, said:
The recent developments in BBSRC’s research culture initiatives highlight a real commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment.
By engaging with minoritised groups through targeted networks and programmes, BBSRC is not only addressing under-representation but also enriching the entire bioscience ecosystem with diverse perspectives and experiences.
Along with members of the EDI EAG, I’m looking forward to continuing guiding BBSRC’s efforts towards a more equitable and collaborative research culture over the next year.
I’m sure we will learn a great deal from the work ongoing across our communities.
Join us in shaping the future of UK biosciences. Apply to become a member of BBSRC’s EDI EAG by 3 December 2024 and be a part of our transformative journey.
Further information
The Connecting Culture projects
Understanding, valuing and celebrating neurodiversity
Led by Leah Milner-Campbell, John Innes Centre
This project aims to create a more supportive and inclusive work environment for neurodivergent people through awareness raising, training and network development activities.
MentforMe
Led by Harriet Keep, The Pirbright Institute
The MentforMe campaign focuses on connecting individuals across institutes to advance careers through tailored, innovative mentoring experiences.
Understanding mechanisms and best practice for evidencing and reporting on research culture and EDI objectives
Led by Jayne Hope, The Roslin Institute
This project seeks to build our understanding of current methods used in data gathering, analysis and reporting.
It is also gathering best practice on the most effective tools, approaches and resources used for reporting evidence and metrics.
Connecting Research Culture Conference
Led by Siobhán Dorai-Raj, Earlham Institute
In spring 2025, colleagues from across BBSRC’s strategically supported institutes will come together and share the findings and best practice emerging from their work.
Led by the Earlham Institute and co-designed with other institutes, the Connecting Research Culture Conference aims to build further support for research culture networks by connecting UK institutes with colleagues from partner universities.
The enhancing EDI in BBSRC-funded networks projects
Enhancing EDI within the AWRN
Led by Gareth Arnott, Queen’s University Belfast
Partners:
- The Equal Group
- In2scienceUK
This initiative aims to boost EDI within the AWRN by surveying up to 1,200 members to establish new benchmarks and identify challenges.
It focuses on developing supportive policies, facilitating community-building for under-represented groups and providing financial assistance for event participation.
Tailored training and long-term strategies aim to make animal welfare research more inclusive, with findings to be shared in a final workshop to promote wider adoption of effective EDI practices.
Striving for equity and inclusion of women, low-income classes and carers in BioImagingUK and Physics of Life networks
Led by Georgina Fletcher, King’s College London
Partners:
- University of York
- The University of Sheffield
- The Equal Group
- Royal Microscopical Society
This project seeks to address equity and inclusion for over 1,750 members by targeting gender disparity, socioeconomic barriers and challenges for parents and carers within the BioImagingUK and Physics of Life networks.
Skills training, coaching and research placements will help to remove socioeconomic obstacles and bursaries will be provided to help increase carer participation in events.
Enhancing EDI in biofilm research and innovation
Led by Paulina Rakowska, University of Southampton
Partners: National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), comprising 63 universities and over 150 industrial partners
The vision for this project is to embed an effective EDI framework across all levels of NBIC operations that benefits employees, research partners and industry members.
As part of the new framework, a Biofilms Foundation will be established in collaboration with other centres.
It will be complemented by further activities such as a consortium-wide mentorship programme, pioneering career fairs and a robust mechanism in which to better collect and monitor EDI data.
Elevating marginalised voices through EDI co-design
Led by Angelina Sanderson Bellamy, University of the West of England
Partners:
- Sustain
- Eating Better
- The Equal Group
- wider stakeholders
The Elevate project is driven by the need to not only raise awareness of diversity in food systems, but to build a clear evidence base that amplifies marginalised voices within research design.
Building on existing foundations, the network will complement current offerings with the development of new virtual events and platforms that draw upon EDI best practices.
The initiative will also produce a legacy training module for wider dissemination.
Empowering the UK wheat community to achieve gender parity
Led by Diane Saunders, John Innes Centre
Partners:
- Rothamsted Research
- University of East Anglia
- Black in Plant Sciences
As part of the BBSRC-funded Delivering Sustainable Wheat Institute Strategic Programme, this initiative will address the disparity surrounding the number of middle and senior level female leaders represented in wheat research.
It builds on the success of the Rosalind Franklin Women in Wheat Champions programme, which ran from 2019 to 2022.
Driving the development of female leaders from early career to senior research career stages, the initiative will deploy new opportunities such as digitised training for improved accessibility and one-to-one mentoring.
Top image: Credit: tdub303, E+ via Getty Images