The British Society for Immunology Diversity & Inclusion framework outlines our commitment to how we are going to work with our members and community to ramp up our equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work and respond to members’ needs.
Embedding EDI in all our activities is one of the cornerstones of our five-year strategic plan to drive scientific discovery and to make a positive impact on health. Our aim is to foster a culture within immunology that ensures fair treatment and opportunity for all.
Building on past and ongoing activities developed with and for our members to create a fairer, more inclusive immunology community, we have begun setting a long-term plan of action for diversity and inclusion at the BSI.
A diverse and inclusive immunology environment can change the world for the better
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is vital to the future of immunology and of the BSI.
Immunology has the potential to deliver huge health benefits for society, but it can only change the world for the better with deliberate action towards a fairer, more inclusive field. Our diversity and inclusion framework aims to showcase our renewed commitment to ramping up our EDI efforts to foster a culture within immunology that ensures fair treatment and opportunity for all.
To us, ‘diversity’ means appreciating, respecting and embracing all the unique characteristics that make people who they are, and ‘inclusion’ is about creating an environment in which people feel welcomed and valued. All those working in immunology, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity and any of the other infinite factors that distinguish individuals from one another, belong in our BSI community.
To realise our vision of better health for all through immunology we need to build a fairer, more inclusive immunology community, with and for our members.
The Society’s journey so far…
Building a fairer, more inclusive immunology community has been an important focus for us for many years. We work with and for our members to proactively integrate equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, both internally and externally.
We strive for EDI in many ways. However, we know we must do more. On pages 4-7 in our framework, we showcase some of the existing projects we will build on with this framework and celebrate the achievements and progress made to date.
Next steps to fulfil our mission
Immunology needs more diversity and inclusion to continue to thrive. Our starting point has, and will continue to be, an open and honest two-way dialogue with our members about the issues they face in their lives as immunologists. Through this continuous communication, we have begun setting an effective plan of action for diversity and inclusion at the BSI.
On pages 8-14 in our framework, we highlight some of our future focal areas that will build on our current activities and the well-established lines of communication with our membership.
Framework principles
- Better health for all through immunology
- We provide a safe and inclusive platform for all those working in immunology
- We work hard to ensure opportunities are within reach to all
- We are passionate about raising diverse voices in immunology
- We believe in two-way conversations with our community
- We know that EDI is everyone's responsibility
- We want to show that immunology can be a fulfilling career path for everyone
- We want to achieve a fair and equal working environment, accessible to all
- We believe in transparency around EDI data and progress
- We collaborate with partners to accelerate progress
- We support our members to overcome the challenges they face in their working lives
- We empower the next generation of immunologists
- We support our members in turning their EDI ideas into reality
- We celebrate the achievements of BSI members from all backgrounds
Delivering our promise to you
Our Diversity & Inclusion framework has been developed in consultation with the BSI Board of Trustees and thanks to the helpful discussions with our membership’s Forum. Our committees will work with BSI staff to deliver this framework and apply the principles of EDI in every aspect of the organisation.
We will report on our progress on a regular basis and continue to listen to the emerging challenges and opportunities of our diverse membership.
We hope that this framework strengthens everyone’s commitment to EDI and encourages our wonderful members to continue their inspiring efforts towards a fairer, more inclusive world of immunology.
Our open-door policy
We believe in an open and honest dialogue with our members about the issues they face in their lives as immunologists. If you have questions, comments or feedback on this framework or diversity and inclusion matters, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at inclusion@immunology.org.
Thank you to all members and partners for their ongoing support, engagement and enthusiasm for our Society and its activities.
We have developed a more accessible document for this framework with the needs of people with a visual impairment in mind. If you experience any accessibility issues or would like to request an alternative format, please email us at inclusion@immunology.org.