Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Government of Canada and the Vanier-Banting Secretariat is committed to ensuring that all trainees have equitable access to research funding and career support. Equity is an integral part of a sustainable research ecosystem as it encourages greater diversity amongst applicants. Studies show that diversity—not just of scientific expertise, but also the people conducting and participating in the research—leads to more creativity and more innovation.

All reviewers must reinforce standards of rigor, fairness, respect and equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the peer review process, and when assessing applications should:

Applicants are thus encouraged to discuss their productivity in terms of research/leadership opportunities that were available to them in the Personal Leadership letter attachment of their application.

To better equip all those participating in the Vanier CGS competition (applicants, nominating institutions, referees, reviewers), the three federal granting councils have curated an important list of the resources to help guide each group.

For Applicants

Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in research

Sex and Gender Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) is the process by which we ensure sound equity, diversity and inclusion principles are applied to research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings. In the context of research, SGBA+ is an analytical process used to systematically examine how differences in identity factors, such as sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age and mental or physical disability, affect the outcomes of research and the impacts of research findings. The purpose is to promote rigorous research that considers identity factors so that the results are impactful and relevant to the diversity of the population. Applicants must provide a strong rationale if they believe that no aspect of the proposed research's design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of findings should take SGBA+ into consideration.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the Status of Women Canada's online Introduction to Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) course

There is an increasing number of cited research examples that would have or have benefited from considering identity factors in the research design and process. A good source for such examples is CIHR's "Impacts of integrating sex and gender in research" and the Stanford University Gendered Innovations project. These materials provide practical examples and methods for sex and gender considerations, in addition to other factors or variables that should be considered, such as biological, socio-cultural or psychological aspects of users, communities, customers, experimental subjects or cells. Research has demonstrated how not taking into consideration certain identity factors, such as race or age, can lead to failed research projects.

Resources

Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities

Note: Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities is defined as research in any field or discipline that is conducted by, grounded in, or engages with First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), Métis, societies, and/or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences, and/or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

Examples include:

  • projects in which water samples are extracted from First Nations Reserve lands
  • analyses of educational policies pertaining to the inclusion of Métis cultural competency considerations, for example: floral beadwork and/or Michif language
  • cross-sectional studies of how injuries sustained by different groups of people, including Inuk (Inuit) youth, are treated

In order to be funded, research involving and engaging with Indigenous communities must fulfill the pillars for respectful research engaging with Indigenous Peoples.

Reducing unconscious bias

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

The agencies have signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), a global initiative whose purpose is to support the development and promotion of best practices in the assessment of scholarly research. As signatories of DORA, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC recognize and value a broad range of contributions and emphasize their quality and impact.

Resources

For Nominating Institution

Reducing unconscious bias

Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities

Note: Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities is defined as research in any field or discipline that is conducted by, grounded in, or engages with First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), Métis, societies, and/or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences, and/or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

Examples include:

  • projects in which water samples are extracted from First Nations Reserve lands
  • analyses of educational policies pertaining to the inclusion of Métis cultural competency considerations, for example: floral beadwork and/or Michif language
  • cross-sectional studies of how injuries sustained by different groups of people, including Inuk (Inui)t youth, are treated

In order to be funded, research involving and engaging with Indigenous communities must fulfill the pillars for respectful research engaging with Indigenous Peoples.

Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in research

SGBA+ is the process by which we ensure sound EDI principles are applied to research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings. In the context of research, GBA+ is an analytical process used to systematically examine how differences in identity factors, such as sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age and mental or physical disability, affect the outcomes of research and the impacts of research findings. The purpose is to promote rigorous research that considers identity factors so that the results are impactful and relevant to the diversity of the Canadian population. Applicants must provide a strong rationale if they believe that no aspect of the proposed research's design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of findings should take SGBA+ into consideration.

All stakeholders are encouraged to take the Status of Women Canada's online Introduction to Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) course.

There is an increasing number of cited research examples that benefit from considering identity factors in the research design and process. A good source for such examples is CIHR's "Impacts of integrating sex and gender in research" and the Stanford University Gendered Innovations project. These materials provide practical examples and methods for sex and gender considerations, in addition to other factors or variables that should be considered, such as biological, socio-cultural or psychological aspects of users, communities, customers, experimental subjects or cells. Research has demonstrated how not taking into consideration certain identity factors, such as race or age, can lead to failed research projects.

Resources

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

The agencies have signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), a global initiative whose purpose is to support the development and promotion of best practices in the assessment of scholarly research. As signatories of DORA, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC recognize and value a broad range of contributions and emphasize their quality and impact.

Resources

For Referees

Reducing unconscious bias

Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities

Note: Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities is defined as research in any field or discipline that is conducted by, grounded in, or engages with First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), Métis, societies, and/or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences, and/or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

Examples include:

  • projects in which water samples are extracted from First Nations Reserve lands
  • analyses of educational policies pertaining to the inclusion of Métis cultural competency considerations, for example: floral beadwork and/or Michif language
  • cross-sectional studies of how injuries sustained by different groups of people, including Inuk (Inuit) youth, are treated

In order to be funded, research involving and engaging with Indigenous communities must fulfill the pillars for respectful research engaging with Indigenous Peoples.

Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in research

Sex and Gender Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) is the process by which we ensure sound EDI principles are applied to research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings. In the context of research, GBA+ is an analytical process used to systematically examine how differences in identity factors, such as sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age and mental or physical disability, affect the outcomes of research and the impacts of research findings. The purpose is to promote rigorous research that considers identity factors so that the results are impactful and relevant to the diversity of the Canadian population. Applicants must provide a strong rationale if they believe that no aspect of the proposed research's design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of findings should take SGBA+ into consideration.

Referees are encouraged to take the Status of Women Canada online Introduction to Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) course.

There is an increasing number of cited research examples that would have or have benefited from considering identity factors in the research design and process. A good source for such examples is CIHR's "Impacts of integrating sex and gender in research" and the Stanford University Gendered Innovations project. These materials provide practical examples and methods for sex and gender considerations, in addition to other factors or variables that should be considered, such as biological, socio-cultural or psychological aspects of users, communities, customers, experimental subjects or cells. Research has demonstrated how not taking into consideration certain identity factors, such as race or age, can lead to failed research projects.

Resources

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

The agencies have signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), a global initiative whose purpose is to support the development and promotion of best practices in the assessment of scholarly research. As signatories of DORA, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC recognize and value a broad range of contributions and emphasize their quality and impact.

Resources

For Reviewers and Readers

Reducing unconscious bias

Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities

Note: Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities is defined as research in any field or discipline that is conducted by, grounded in, or engages with First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), Métis, societies, and/or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences, and/or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

Examples include:

  • projects in which water samples are extracted from First Nations Reserve lands
  • analyses of educational policies pertaining to the inclusion of Métis cultural competency considerations, for example: floral beadwork and/or Michif language
  • cross-sectional studies of how injuries sustained by different groups of people, including Inuk (Inuit) youth, are treated

In order to be funded, research involving and engaging with Indigenous communities must fulfill the pillars for respectful research engaging with Indigenous Peoples.

Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in research

Sex and Gender Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) is the process by which we ensure sound equity, diversity and inclusion principles are applied to research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings. In the context of research, SGBA+ is an analytical process used to systematically examine how differences in identity factors, such as sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age and mental or physical disability, affect the outcomes of research and the impacts of research findings. The purpose is to promote rigorous research that considers identity factors so that the results are impactful and relevant to the diversity of the Canadian population. Applicants must provide a strong rationale if they believe that no aspect of the proposed research's design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of findings should take SGBA+ into consideration.

Reviewers and readers are strongly encouraged to take the Status of Women Canada's online Introduction to Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) course.

There is an increasing number of cited research examples that would have or have benefited from considering identity factors in the research design and process. A good source for such examples is CIHR's "Impacts of integrating sex and gender in research" and the Stanford University Gendered Innovations project. These materials provide practical examples and methods for sex and gender considerations, in addition to other factors or variables that should be considered, such as biological, socio-cultural or psychological aspects of users, communities, customers, experimental subjects or cells. Research has demonstrated how not taking into consideration certain identity factors, such as race or age, can lead to failed research projects.

Resources

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

The agencies have signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), a global initiative whose purpose is to support the development and promotion of best practices in the assessment of scholarly research. As signatories of DORA, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC recognize and value a broad range of contributions and emphasize their quality and impact.

Resources

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