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EDI in Practice: Launching SAPEA’s Strategy and Sharing Lessons from European Academies

EDI in Practice: Launching SAPEA’s Strategy and Sharing Lessons from European Academies

Online event

Event details

Start time

5 October 2026 15:00

End time

5 October 2026 16:00

Time zone

CEST
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)