Equity Diversity & Inclusion Committee - Australasian Neuroscience Society Inc

Across scientific fields of research, there is extensive evidence that we lack diversity amongst researchers, which means we are missing potential talent and innovation, and opportunities for science careers is inequitable. There is a need to support, promote, and partner with researchers from different ethnic, sex, cultural, religious, geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds, researchers who may be disadvantaged due to gender, sexuality or disability, and those who need support for other reasons. We aim to achieve the following goals:

1. Gender balance and Indigenous representation in ANS committees and conference positions that reflects the ANS membership

2. Increased opportunities for caregivers to engage with ANS

3. Increased awareness in our membership of the obstacles to equity, and the importance of addressing these obstacles

4. Increased awareness in our membership of strategies to address inequity in science

5. Initiatives to support conference attendance by researchers from underrepresented areas in our region

6. Be an influence for positive change in academic institutions, funding bodies and society more broadly Term of Reference Equity & Diversity Policy

Term of Reference

Equity & Diversity Policy

Please scroll down to see the members of the Equity & Diversity Committee, information about awards on offer and also links to resources.

Awards

The Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) is offering travel awards for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori students and researchers to attend the 2025 ASM in Hobart from November 30 - December 3.

Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions for the 2025 award close June 15, 2025.

The goal of this program is to provide opportunities for Indigenous students and research staff to participate in the ANS meeting and engage with the local neuroscience research community. Existing research experience in neuroscience is not a pre-requisite, and we're especially excited to hear from students and researchers who are interested in neuroscience and looking to strengthen their connection with the field, or access new research training and collaborative opportunities.

The award will include:

free meeting registrations
travel budget (adjusted for travel distance to cover return flights and 3 nights accommodation)
free ANS membership for 1 year
the opportunity to stay for an extra night and visit a leading research institute in Hobart, the Menzies Institute of Medical Research.
travel awards for junior (e.g. undergraduate, masters and PhD students, research assistants and recent PhD graduates <2 years post PhD) and established (>2 years post PhD including postdocs and faculty) candidates are available.

Other Resources on Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competence:

ALBA Declaration: https://www.alba.network/declaration ANS is an endorsing organisation of the ALBA Declaration.

NHMRC Gender Equity Strategy 2022-2025: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research-policy/gender-equity/nhmrc-gender-equity-strategy-2022-2025

ARC Diversity and Inclusion Framework: https://www.arc.gov.au/about-arc/corporate-policies/diversity-inclusion-framework

SFN - Neuroline Diversity Resources: https://neuronline.sfn.org/diversity

Black in Neuro: https://blackinneuro.com/

Stories of WIN: https://www.storiesofwin.org/

Lowitja Institute - Supporting Indigenous Researchers: https://www.lowitja.org.au/page/services/resources/health-services-and-workforce/workforce/Supporting-Indigenous-Researchers

USYD free cultural competency training Massive Online Open Courses: https://www.sydney.edu.au/nccc/education-and-training/massive-online-open-courses.html

Centre for Cultural Competence Australia (CCCA) training courses: https://www.ccca.com.au/content/ccca-courses

Queer in STEMM: https://queersinscience.org.au/

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/standard-sex-gender-variations-sex-characteristics-and-sexual-orientation-variables/latest-release

ALBA webinar on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Oceania: https://www.alba.network/DEI-Oceania.

Athena SWAN program for gender equity for Women in Science

Please see below a link to a small study of the impact of the Athena SWAN program for gender equity for Women in Science, the principles of which have been adopted by ANS.