Kasprowicz, Victoria O;
Waddilove, Kim Darley;
Chopera, Denis;
Khumalo, Sipho;
Harilall, Sashin;
Wong, Emily B;
Karita, Etienne;
... Ndung'u, Thumbi; + view all
(2023)
Developing a diversity, equity and inclusion compass to guide scientific capacity strengthening efforts in Africa.
PLOS Global Public Health
, 3
(12)
, Article e0002339. 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002339.
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Abstract
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science is vital to improve the scientific process and ensure societal uptake and application of scientific results. DEI challenges include a full spectrum of issues from the lack of, and promotion of, women in science, to the numerous barriers in place that limit representation of African scientists in global scientific efforts. DEI principles in African science remain relatively underdeveloped, with limited engagement and discussion among all stakeholders to ensure that initiatives are relevant to local environments. The Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV research Excellence (SANTHE) is a network of African-led research in HIV, tuberculosis (TB), associated co-morbidities, and emerging pathogens, now based in eight African countries. Our aim, as a scientific capacity strengthening network, was to collaboratively produce a set of DEI guidelines and to represent them visually as a DEI compass. We implemented a consortium-wide survey, focus group discussions and a workshop where we were able to identify the key DEI challenges as viewed by scientists and support staff within the SANTHE network. Three thematic areas were identified: 1. Conquering Biases, 2. Respecting the Needs of a Diverse Workforce (including mental health challenges, physical disability, career stability issues, demands of parenthood, and female-specific challenges), and 3. Promotion of African Science. From this we constructed a compass that included proposed steps to start addressing these issues. The use of the compass metaphor allows 're-adjustment/re-positioning' making this a dynamic output. The compass can become a tool to establish an institution's DEI priorities and then to progress towards them.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Developing a diversity, equity and inclusion compass to guide scientific capacity strengthening efforts in Africa |
| Location: | United States |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002339 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002339 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Keywords: | Scientists, Compasses, Careers, Surveys, African people, Consortia, Mental health and psychiatry, Trainees |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Infection and Immunity |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10184694 |
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