Equality and Diversity

The School of Biological Sciences is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all staff and students. Equality means ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairly and equally and no less favourably, specific to their needs. Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people's differences to contribute and realise their full potential by promoting an inclusive culture for all staff and students.

Who we are and what we do:

EDI Leads

Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – Professor Sinead Collins
College Dean of EDI in Systemic Inclusion – Professor Karen Halliday
EDI Administrator – Louise Bishop

The EDI leads, in conjunction with the Head of School, Director of Professional Services, SEC and the SBS EDI Advisory Group shape and direct EDI actions at the School of Biological Sciences.

In 2020/2021, some key activities were:

Compiled and ran a Covid-19 Staff Survey and 2021 Follow-up Surveyto gain data on the impacts and disruptions for different types of staff. there will be another Follow-up survey launched in October 2022.
Undertook a thorough Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) on new work procedures and return to campus plans for the School during and after the initial Covid-19 lockdown periods.
Brought together a group of staff and students to brainstorm what and ideal School of Biological Sciences would look like in 2030 from and EDI perspective.
Published a statement on tackling racial inequality and established an online form where staff and students can anonymously or not anonymously record their experiences with, or comments on racism, harassment or microaggressions. The School is also working, along with College level colleagues, to decolonise the curriculum.

In 2022, the leads will work further with the SBS EDI Advisory Group, continue collecting data from staff related to the impacts of Covid-19 disruptions, develop a comprehensive EDI Strategy for the future and respond to staff, students and sectoral needs. We will also be replacing our Athena SWAN award with a more inclusive EDI document showing all out efforts in this area.

Please direct questions to sbs.EandD@ed.ac.uk.

Tackling Racial Inequality

The School of Biological Sciences is developing a BAME strategy to improve racial literacy, create an inclusive culture and ensure our practices celebrate diversity and enhance belonging for staff and students of all ethnicities and backgrounds.