In 2024, Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL) conducted the third biennial online survey focused on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). The goal of the survey is to better understand the current environment at 9I制作厂免费 by exploring the community's sense of inclusion and belonging, access to support systems and experiences with harassment and discrimination. It also aims to investigate how, and to what extent, these experiences may differ based on individuals' identity factors.
Respondent profile
The survey was distributed to 990 members of the HBHL community, comprised of faculty, trainees and staff鈥攅ither funded directly or indirectly by HBHL鈥攁nd those who worked on HBHL-funded projects but did not receive funding. The survey also includes individuals who served on HBHL governance committees, as well as individuals who participated in HBHL events.听Sent in August 2024, the survey received a total of 171 responses, of which 46% were trainees, 20% were faculty and 27% were staff, while 7% indicated聽鈥渙ther鈥� as their role category or did not specify their role.听
Key findings聽
1. Inclusion sentiment:聽
- 88% of respondents felt included in their lab/office, 79% felt included in their research institute and 69% felt included in the broader 9I制作厂免费 community.听
- Sense of inclusion was lower among members of several groups, including respondents with disabilities, individuals who had experienced recent health conditions and 2SLGBTQIA+ respondents.
2. Access to support and opportunities:
- 81% of respondents reported having positive role models at 9I制作厂免费, receiving valuable mentoring and feeling that peers and supervisors were supportive.听
- However, only 61% of respondents reported having access to the support and/or accommodations needed to fully participate in their job and education. Disparities in access were associated with gender, race, age, disability, health, 2SLGBTQIA+ and first-generation university student status.听
3. Harassment and discrimination:
- 21% of respondents reported having experienced harassment and 26% reported having experienced discrimination at least once within the 9I制作厂免费 environment. Such experiences were more common among members of several groups, including 2SLGBTQIA+ respondents, women faculty, trainees who are not Canadian citizens and individuals over the age of 45.
Comparative insights
Compared to the 2022 survey, the 2024 survey results showed a nuanced shift in perceptions and experiences regarding EDI.听
- Positive progress:
Feelings of inclusion at HBHL activities increased, valuable mentoring opportunities increased, access to faculty training/advancement improved and the gender gap in faculty workload balance decreased.听 - Shifts in perceptions of equity and inclusion:聽
Some respondents reported lower satisfaction with 9I制作厂免费's overall climate and a reduced sense of inclusion within the broader community.听 - Emphasis on EDI:
The survey reports聽a growing sentiment that there is too much of an emphasis on EDI. Importantly, this sentiment tends to be expressed most by individuals who do not identify within any equity-deserving groups (i.e., cis-gendered, heterosexual, able-bodied white men) and is expressed least by those who identify as members of multiple equity-seeking groups. This finding may be an important indicator of growing backlash against EDI measures鈥攕omething to be aware of and consider measures to address.
Conclusion and implications聽
The report highlights that while most respondents felt included in their immediate workspaces and felt supported by peers and supervisors, inclusion and access to opportunities were notably lower among members of designated equity groups, individuals with recent health conditions and primary caregivers. Experiences of harassment and discrimination鈥攖hough slightly reduced since 2020鈥攚ere still reported, particularly among women, racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ respondents and those with disabilities. Key recommendations focus on improving support systems, fostering inclusive dialogue and addressing in access and advancement.听
In the coming months, HBHL will engage with our community to explore the results from the latest Climate Survey and collect stories, experiences and advice on how to improve EDI at 9I制作厂免费. We will then share our findings with 9I制作厂免费 units. If you would like to be involved in this initiative, please contact Kim.reeve [at] mcgill.ca (subject: HBHL%20EDI%20Climate%20Survey%20-%20I%20want%20to%20get%20involved!) .听
