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Research Guide for Library Faculty: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

About EDI

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are becoming imperatives in academic research. There are moral imperatives to ensuring that people from marginalized and underrepresented groups are able to participate fully in all parts of research, but beyond that, meaningfully addressing EDI in research leads to stronger research through:

- increased innovation

- broader recruitment

- more broadly applicable results

- better retention at both student and faculty levels

Increasingly, funding organizations recognize these imperatives and are requiring EDI to be built effectively into grant applications and research project design. This page contains links to resources to assist with developing meaningful EDI plans. Additionally, Katya can help with setting up additional conversations and connections with others who have expertise in specific areas.

EDI considerations in research and grant-writing

These points, and this guide, are starting points for incorporating EDI considerations into your work. EDI is best conceptualized as an ongoing, context-specific set of conversations, plans, and actions.

When developing research projects or grant proposals, the following questions can help to identify areas to focus on:

  • Are your EDI plans built into all sections of the proposal/aspects of the research? How do you show that your decisions are feasible and that they respond to specific needs?

  • How do you plan to mitigate power imbalances (for example, between researchers and RAs)? Do you have a specific conflict management process if you are working with a research team?

  • To what extent does your EDI plan align with USask and funding agency plans and policies?

  • What EDI-related training is available for you and other project team members? Who should take it, and why?

  • What supports and resources are available to you to hear from equity-seeking groups about what actions would be effective and meaningful?

In general, best practices include being aware of where equity, diversity, and inclusion could be improved or expanded, and how you can address that. Within your research, it is important to demonstrate that awareness by identifying specific, meaningful actions to dismantle rather than work around barriers.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is an analytical framework or approach that is used to evaluate how people of different genders (along with other intersecting aspects of identity or experience -- the "Plus" of GBA+) may experience research environments in different ways. The goal of GBA+ is to identify where a research project may have inequities, and develop strategies to proactively remove barriers. GBA+ can be a helpful tool for developing EDI plans and statements in grant applications and research project design.

GBA+ Resources:

Women and Gender Equality Canada GBA+ course and resources

Stanford University Gendered Innovations in scientific research