Equality, inclusion and diversity (EID) strategy of ECCB2018

Diversity Definition (SCB):
Diversity includes, but is not limited to, characteristics of age, gender, ethnic heritage, race, skin color, geography, nationality, language, culture, field of study/work/research, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, handicap and/or abilities.

ECCB2018 Diversity officer
ECCB2018 has a nominated Diversity Officer who solely concentrates on bringing up diversity aspects throughout the whole process of organizing ECCB2018. Diversity Officer works together with all of the committees with the mission to encourage more inclusive outreach, education and funding initiatives to ensure a more equal, equitable and inclusive ECCB. Ultimately, the Officer is working to ensure that all activities developed for ECCB are responsive to the diverse needs and capabilities of all SCB members.

If you have any ideas or wishes regarding the diversity of ECCB2018, kindly contact the Diversity Officer Jenna Purhonen (jenna.e.i.purhonen@jyu.fi). 

Code of conduct

Please see the Society for Conservation Biology and the ECCB2018 code of conduct here: https://conbio.org/conferences/about-scb-meetings/iccb-code-of-conduct/

Diversity efforts in ECCB2018

Abstracts 

  • Everyone who submits an abstract are allowed to review other abstracts in the abstract submission system via Peerage of Science. This enables peer reviewing and improves the transparency of the process. 
  • Only one abstract is allowed to be submitted per person to increase the diversity of presentators. 
  • Best student poster and oral presentation will be granted an award 

Children 

  • Free childcare
  • Congress is open for children below the age 16, no registration needed 
  • Nursing room has a fridge for storing milk

Communication 

  • Active communication about EID issues throug social media 
  • Congress app allows delegates to search for presentations by keywords. Congress participants will be notified about the keywords regarding the EID aspect. 
  • Safety officer that is independent from the organizer (Finnish Red Cross) - participants can safely report if code of conduct has been broken or there are any other issues regarding to safety 

Congress premises 

  • Gender neutral and gender specific bathrooms 
  • Separate nursing room for pumping/breastfeeding 
  • Separate room for practicing religion 
  • Accessible for wheelchairs and/or other disabilities 

A special field excursion that is available for those with physical disabilities     

Diverse pool of plenary speakers 

Expenses 

  • Lower registration fee for delegates from developing countries 
  • Possibility to apply for participation support for students and delegates from developing countries 
  • Couchsurfing opportunities 
  • Low conference dinner fee to allow more equal possibility for everybody to participate 
  • Artisan booths are organized to enable local artists to participate as exhibitors

Forums to discuss 

  • Possibility to organize lunchtime or other forum discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion in conservation science (topics could be for example religion, land rights, indigenous communities, gender etc.) Please contact Jenna Purhonen (jenna.purhonen@jyu.fi) for proposing a topic and time, and making reservation for the space 
  • The congress app allows ”matchmaking” – the possibility to invite other congress participants to the forum/meeting. 

Low-cost networking occasions 

  • Workshop for PhD students
  • Evening/morning run around the lake Jyväsjärvi 
  • Sauna boat cruises 
  • Documentary evening 
  • Poppari open stage 
  • Family meeting in a park

Most courses are organized free of charge to enable an equal opportunity to participate .

Feedback from diversity, equality and inclusion discussions:

  • Equality can also be taken into account in citing practises, do you know if you cite any minorities?
  • You can raise equality issues in research institutes by arranging workshops and by educating students and people in leading positions about them
  • More space in conference programs for diversity, equality and inclusion issues needed
  • Take your changes to engourage minorities (and women) to apply to higher positions
  • Equality and conservation issues go hand in hand
  • You don't have to be in minority yourself to raise equality issues. Talk about them also in public.
  • Remember to think about equality when selecting candidates to open positions
  • Familiarize yourself with the concept of intersectionality
  • Be aware of the phrases and language that you use and in which concept