BPS believes that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed in an environment which enables them to do so. We will work to eliminate barriers to career progression at all stages and address areas including, but not limited to, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, disability and socio-economic status.
The phycology subject area will not reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of all. The BPS Council therefore commits to nurturing a fully inclusive and approachable community of people who work on algae.Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our vision for algal research, education and related enterprise to help the BPS to contribute to a prosperous economy. We recognise and will seek to maximise the benefits achieved by diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.
We aim to recruit under-represented groups into the BPS and promote opportunities for engagement, for example by encouraging people to stand for Council positions, Committee Chair and meeting session Convenor opportunities. We are working to increase the diversity of those studying and working with algae by celebrating the contribution to phycology by women and under-represented groups. The BPS applies the principles of the UK Athena SWAN Charter to all its activities. We also embed the analysis and reflection of diversity data within all BPS processes, and use these data to inform proposals for actions and changes to increase diversity.
Christine Maggs and Gill Malin
BPS Equality and Diversity Champions – January 2019
