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Summary
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invites applications to join the BBSRC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expert Advisory Group (EDI Advisory Group). The terms of reference of this group and other information is provided below.
The purpose of the EDI Advisory Group is to provide expert external advice and guidance to BBSRC on its approach to improving EDI in the bioscience research and innovation community.
The EDI Advisory Group will:
- meet by video conference twice initially, in winter 2022 and spring or summer 2022, then review the need to continue
- report to the BBSRC People and Talent Strategy Advisory Panel (PAT SAP)
- comprise seven to 10 members (including Chair) plus BBSRC office staff
Further information
Purpose
The purpose of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expert Advisory Group is to provide expert external advice and guidance to BBSRC on its approach to improving EDI in the bioscience research and innovation community.
Terms of reference
The EDI Advisory Group will:
Provide external oversight of BBSRC’s EDI Workplan in the context of the UKRI EDI Strategy and BBSRC Strategic Delivery Plan, including:
- acting as a ‘critical friend’ in challenging BBSRC’s work
- acting as advocates for EDI in the biosciences and for BBSRC work in this area
- ensuring that BBSRC activities align with UKRI and BBSRC priorities in this area and support a balanced portfolio of activities which have the greatest impact for the BBSRC community.
Identify and prioritise the key EDI issues in the biosciences and provide advice on what BBSRC could do to help address these challenges in the short and longer terms.
Provide oversight on BBSRC’s EDI evidence base to identify areas for intervention or further investigation, to include for example:
- advising on ongoing or future evidence requirements
- identifying any specific EDI issues that have arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and how these could be resolved in the short and longer terms
- advising on the role of existing BBSRC investment mechanisms in improving EDI and/or gathering evidence; for example, fellowships, studentships, New Investigators, strategic LoLas, Institute Strategic Programmes, and others.
Meetings
The EDI Advisory Group will meet by video conference twice initially, in winter 2022 and spring or summer 2022. Any further input between meetings will be carried out by telephone and/or email. The Group will report to BBSRC People and Talent Strategy Advisory Panel within six months of its first meeting, at which stage the future role of the group will be reviewed.
Meeting one will include:
- reviewing the current BBSRC EDI workplan and input to date, in the context of related UKRI and BBSRC priorities
- sharing examples of good practice within the bioscience community
- reviewing BBSRC’s EDI evidence base
- agreeing engagement routes and an EDI communication strategy
- agreeing areas for ‘deep-dive’ in meeting two
Meeting two will include:
- reviewing the EDI workplan and activities
- identifying new and ongoing issues
- deep-dive on two to three areas agreed by the group: reviewing detailed analysis, current interventions and areas of note, and advising on activities to address this going forward
Membership
The BBSRC EDI Advisory Group will comprise a total of seven to 10 members plus office staff.
Across the membership of the EDI Advisory Group, the following knowledge, expertise and skills will be represented:
Demonstrable understanding and interest in EDI or research culture issues, including one or more of the following:
- knowledge of EDI challenges across the research and innovation community and how this relates to BBSRC’s role in improving EDI in the biosciences
- knowledge of EDI challenges within a particular region, sector (for example, academia, industry or other research institute), or research area (for example, one of BBSRC’s strategic research priority areas)
- knowledge of EDI challenges for a particular career stage (for example, postgraduate students, early career researchers or research leaders)
In-depth knowledge of BBSRC systems, processes or strategic development (for example, through participation in a BBSRC panel or committee).
Contact
Aidan Grimsley
Email: aidan.grimsley@bbsrc.ukri.org
Last updated: 16 March 2023