Reactive D&I Work

Applied Microbiology International responds to requests from policymakers for evidence and information on D&I within STEM, working in tandem with our members and partners.

Applied Microbiology International works to help ensure microbiology (as well as the wider STEM community) is accessible, inclusive and therefore representative of the global population. We want to support the entry into, and progression of, a diverse range of individuals within STEM as we believe global challenges need to be solved by global, interdisciplinary experts.

 
Equity vs Equality 

Equity and equality are two approaches used to try to create fairness. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. While the term equity may sound similar, equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

In the illustration below, three individuals have unequal access to a system — in this case, the fence which provides a barrier to the view. With equal support from evenly distributed tools, their access to the view still remains unequal. However, the equitable solution allocates the exact resources that each person needs to access the view, leading to positive outcomes for all individuals. 

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The route to achieving equity will not be accomplished through treating everyone equally. It will be achieved by treating everyone justly according to their circumstances.

Paula Dressel

Race Matters Institute