ETH Zurich Community & Outreach’s Post

📢 Call for papers! First ISLAC Global Symposium University of South Florida April 11th & 12th, 2024 ISLAC is now accepting submissions for papers, inviting contributions that pertain to Latin America, the Caribbean, and/or Latino populations in the US or worldwide. We encourage faculty, students, and practitioners to propose papers in the following fields/topics (though not limited to): - Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino roles in World Affairs - Democracies and regimes in Latin America and the Caribbean - Migrations and Minority Communities in Latin America and the Caribbean - Gender and Sexuality in Latin America, the Caribbean, and among Latino populations - Higher Education Issues relating to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino populations - Cultural Contributions from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latinos to the world (including arts, literature, architecture, music, etc.) - Global Challenges faced by Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino populations (including indigenous and Afrodescendant communities) Proposals may be sent as a panel (up to 4 papers) or individual to padillab@usf.edu and acvillachvaquerusf.edu . Deadline: February 16, 2024.

To wrap up our week on #diversity in research, check out a recent ERC conference all about this topic 🎤🎙️. ERC grantees presented their frontier research projects that study diversity in society and that exemplify the importance of taking diversity into account in research design. Watch the many interesting sessions here 👉 https://bit.ly/490wHEO Want to know even more about the topic? Read our factsheet on frontier research and diversity 👉 https://bit.ly/42xWOAr #diversity #research #ResearchDiversity

Where does the future of democratic society take place? Is it from high-level institutions, or is it from below? Is it built strategically, or does it emerge in the interactions between everyday actors? These are some of the questions we explored in yesterday's full-day work of the CEMES group 'Future Society & Democracy in Europe'. Linking research between Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen, Lund University and Malmö University we met around a fabulation exercise (exploring our personal relationships to the concepts of 'future', 'society', and 'democracy) that set the scene for a more traditional academic discussion. Core themes that emerged: #trust, #artificialintelligence, and #disinformation, but also #ainarratives, #socialmedia, #informationpolitics, #medialiteracy, #healthdata, #decisionmaking, #futureofwork, #historicalmemory, and #geopolitics. We'll be announcing more specific events on these themes in the coming years. And, if you're a #phd student in the region please do consider getting in contact as we're planning a sub-group focused on the needs of doctoral studies.

I strongly believe that scientists have an obligation to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles in how they conduct science. In 2022, I started a journal club in the Fraser lab centered around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within academia, specifically in the biological sciences. My goal was to create an environment for continued learning, critical discussion, and brainstorming action items that individuals and labs can implement. After each journal club, the discussion leader summarized the discussions and proposed action items in a blog post (https://lnkd.in/gNb54QVd). The discussions and proposed interventions reflect the participants' own opinions based on their own personal identities and lived experiences, and may differ from the identities and experiences of others. We decided to share our insights and ideas publicly as a way of holding ourselves accountable and to encourage other scientists to engage with DEIJ practitioners and their scholarship. Following extensive conversations with Stephanie Wankowicz, PhD and colleagues, we decided to write an article titled "Ten recommendations for hosting a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) journal club." By providing a framework for scientists to engage with DEIJ scholarship, we hope that more research groups will take the first step toward understanding how bias and discrimination persist in academia and what role we all play in creating more inclusive and equitable spaces within STEM academia. We welcome discussion and constructive feedback on our article. https://lnkd.in/g6xvU9AH

🗓 Event: Designing Knowledge, Engineering Society? Technical Universities and the Dilemma of Democracy 🎟 Open to the public, no registration necessary. 📅 Date & Time: Thursday, August 29, 18:30 - 19:45 📍 Location: ETH Main Building, HG E 3 In the face of growing global challenges, technical universities play a pivotal role in creating knowledge that serves #society. But how can these institutions balance the different societal demands and needs in their research and teaching? 🔎 The prominent panelists Prof. Sheila Jasanoff from Harvard Kennedy School and Prof. Sebastian Pfotenhauer from Technical University of Munich as well as Prof. Vanessa Wood, Prof. Effy Vayena, and Prof. Margarita Boenig-Liptsin from ETH Zürich will share their perspectives on what kinds of knowledge and expertise are needed in today's world and what role technical universities in particular should play in meeting those needs.💡 This public panel is organized by the Professorship for Ethics, Technology and Society of ETH Zurich as part of the 23rd annual meeting of the Science and Democracy Network.  #ethzurich #universities #science #technology #society https://lnkd.in/dmBZx68A

🚀 Exciting News in Research Funding! 🌍 Wellcome Trust is taking a significant step towards promoting diversity and inclusion in scientific research with the launch of an #ethnicminority-only research funding stream. 🌈 🌟 Key Highlights: Funding for Progress: A dedicated fund of £20 million is set to empower early- and mid-career researchers from #black, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani backgrounds in the UK. This initiative is a testament to Wellcome's commitment to supporting underrepresented talent and fostering inclusivity in the scientific community. Spring 2024 Launch: The new funding scheme is slated to open its doors in Spring 2024, providing a unique opportunity for researchers of Black, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani heritage to advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to the world of science. Positive Action in Shortlisting: In addition to the dedicated funding stream, Wellcome is taking proactive steps towards inclusivity. Positive action measures will be introduced in shortlisting for competitive open funding calls and schemes, further ensuring a diverse representation of talent. 💡 Why is this Important? Representation matters! This initiative recognises the need for equitable opportunities in the scientific landscape. By specifically supporting researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, Wellcome is contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic research environment. 🌐 Join the Movement: Are you a researcher passionate about making a difference? Keep an eye out for the Spring 2024 launch and explore how Wellcome's initiatives can propel your career forward. This is a chance to not only advance your research but also play a crucial role in building a more diverse and impactful Black academic community. Kudos to Wellcome for championing positive change in the realm of research funding! Let's amplify the impact by spreading the word and supporting the incredible talent that will emerge through these initiatives. 🚀🔬 #ResearchFunding #DiversityInScience #WellcomeInitiative #InclusiveResearch #STEMInnovation #Blackfemaleacademicsnetwork #BFAN

Exactly the right direction!

This is another STEM Positive Disruptor - MIA conversation with special guest, Associate Professor Geci Karuri-Sebina PhD, Wits School of Governance (The University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa). She describes herself as a thinker, researcher and sometimes a doer, you need to listen to our conversation and she works in the intersection between people, place and technological change, an expert in futures and foresight. Based in South Africa, with a background in computer science, architecture, sociology, and urban planning. Geci has a background in using tech and innovation to work with communities on a wide range of local development and social transformation issues and currently lectures on innovation systems policy for developing countries, and innovation systems for social purposes. Her expertise is broad and varied, she has written a few books and articles as an individual but also in collaboration with others, the most recent book is called "Innovation Ecosystems in Africa" and there is a follow-up coming soon. I am so grateful that Geci was able to make time to have a conversation with me (what a powerful and thought-provoking conversation it was). I asked among other things, if STE(A)M and Innovation is the game changer in Africa and if Africa is ready to be in the fore front of change and bridge the gap and provide solutions where education, industry and government is concerned in Africa and globally. Again listen to our conversation to hear her response. I will share some of the facts that I gleaned from our conversation and solutions provided: 1. Innovation does happen in Africa, during COVID, 12% of technological innovation across the world came from Africa in the first year. 2. To encourage more young people, especially females to take on STEM subjects and profession, we have to show the interconnection between technical subjects, sciences and actual developmental and social issues affecting our world. 3. The Eco-System in Africa has to enable the thinkers, innovators, and doers to flourish, which includes investing in them (capital) and also link the formal and informal systems (not everyone will go through the educational path currently in place) 4. You need to listen to her recommendation for the government, education, and industry in Africa and beyond, especially the concern we have on skills shortage globally. This platform is to Educate, Raise awareness, Demystify and Change Perception about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and make it more accessible to the public. Geci Karuri-Sebina #urbanplanning #governance #innovation #africa

The scholarly community is evolving fast to recognize the diverse roles that enrich the research landscape. The traditional model of authorship is being reexamined in favor of a more inclusive contributorship approach. This approach aligns with the principles of open science, pushing for transparency and equitable acknowledgment of all scholarly efforts. The adoption of #ORCID underscores this shift. ORCID provides a unique identifier for each researcher, ensuring their contributions, regardless of role or output type, are accurately attributed. Its implementation by funders across various nations signifies a growing consensus on the need for a standardized approach to credit research contributions globally. This change reflects a collective stride towards acknowledging the full spectrum of scholarly efforts in research, far beyond just published outcomes. This evolution challenges traditional norms and pushes for a research assessment that honors the collective efforts enriching the scientific dialogue. #ResearchRecognition #OpenScience #EquityInAcademia #ScholarlyCollaboration

Thanks a lot to DG HR for hosting the presentation of main findings of my work at EUI (EU Fellowship)