This webinar will introduce SAPEA's new Strategy on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, aimed at embedding EDI systematically across its scientific advisory work. It will also foster knowledge exchange on EDI practice among European Academies.

This webinar will introduce SAPEA’s Strategy on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). With this Strategy, SAPEA renews its commitments to ensuring that EDI is not a peripheral consideration but systematically embedded across all aspects of its scientific advisory work - from expert nomination and selection to evidence synthesis, deliberation, communications and outreach.

Embedding EDI principles is essential for delivering high-quality, robust, and relevant science advice. By promoting diversity across disciplines, career stages, geography, and perspectives, including experts beyond Academy Fellows, SAPEA seeks to reduce bias and strengthen the relevance and legitimacy of its advice.

The webinar also provides an opportunity to raise awareness and support knowledge exchange on EDI practice in academia, through examples of EDI strategy implementation in European Academies, with the aim of sharing good practice and inspiring action towards more inclusive science advice.

This webinar is aimed at SAPEA Academy Networks representatives, Academy Presidents, and interested members and staff.

Objectives of the workshop #

• Present the SAPEA’s Strategy on EDI and its five strategic objectives

• Raise awareness and support knowledge exchange and good practice on EDI in academia

• Strengthen alignment between SAPEA, Academy Networks and European Academies

Format#

1. Introductory remarks - “Embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Academia: Conditions for Positive Impact”

• Professor Mustafa Ozbilgin, Associate Dean Equity and Inclusion/Professor at Brunel University of London (10 minutes)

2. Presentation of the SAPEA EDI Strategy

• Dr Jennifer McMahon, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Limerick, Ireland, and Chair of the SAPEA EDI Working Group (15 minutes)

3. Panel discussion with three Academies to share good practices and challenges from embedding EDI in their institutions (20 minutes)

• Dr Soňa Ehlerová, Member of the Academy Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences
• Dr Yensi Flores Bueso, Co-chair of Executive Committee of the Global Young Academy
• Ms Jenni Dyer, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at the Royal Society (UK)

4. Q&A with the audience (15 minutes)

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About SAM#

The Scientific Advice Mechanism provides independent scientific evidence and policy recommendations to the College of European Commissioners on any subject, including on policy issues that the European Parliament and the Council consider to be of major importance.

SAM consists of three parts:

• the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, seven eminent scientists whose role is to make policy recommendations
• SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies), which brings together Europe’s academies and Academy Networks to review and synthesise evidence
• the SAM secretariat, a unit within the European Commission whose role is to support the Advisors and liaise between the Scientific Advice Mechanism and the European Commission

In some activities, such as communicating about SAM's work, the three parts collaborate closely.

When giving scientific advice, SAPEA and the Advisors work independently, following specific procedures to maintain the independence and quality of our advice.

History#

The first Group of Chief Scientific Advisors were appointed in 2015. They were initially known as the ‘High-Level Group’ and their mandate was to advise the College of Commissioners on scientific issues. SAPEA was created in 2016.

In 2023, the Commission decided that the Scientific Advice Mechanism should advise on scientific issues relevant to the policy priorities of the European Parliament and Council of the EU, as well as to the European Commission. All requests still come via the College of Commissioners.