Fostering inclusion: strategies to transform academic work cultures
Fostering a culture of belonging is key to creating inclusive and supportive academic workplaces where all researchers can thrive. Yet building such a culture requires more than good intentions — it demands concrete, sustained efforts at both structural and interpersonal levels.
This workshop will spotlight real-world initiatives that have successfully improved workplace climate across organisations. From mentoring and inclusive leadership to flexible working policies, participants will explore a wide range of strategies that promote equity, transparency, and wellbeing in their lab, society, department etc.
Through practical examples, lived experience, and interactive breakout sessions, attendees will gain actionable tools they can adapt to their own institutional contexts. Particular emphasis will be placed on cost-effective, scalable approaches that support cultural change across diverse settings.
This session is for anyone committed to turning the values of the ALBA Declaration on Equity and Inclusion into tangible improvements in academic work culture.
Adrian Liston
Professor Adrian Liston is an immunologist and professor of pathology at the University of Cambridge (UK) and equalities fellow at St Catharine’s College. He conducts research at the intersection of immunology and neuroscience, and is prolific writer and workshop coordinator on the topics of navigating a science career and improving research culture.
Ibukun Akinrinade
Dr Ibukun Akinrinade is a postdoctoral researcher at the Bains lab in the Hotchkiss brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary. Her research seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms of stress regulation and how social presence influences behavioural outcomes. She aims to understand how stressors and social support interact to impact an individual’s well-being.
She is also passionate about open science and inspiring/training the next generation of scientists. She has organized and participated in hands-on training workshops in Africa. She is a member of science communication hubs in Africa.
From Declaration to action workshop series
The ALBA Declaration on Equity and Inclusion serves as a vital call to action within the neuroscience community, yet feedback, gathered through a survey sent to all Declaration organisational signatories, indicates a pressing need to make these goals more accessible and actionable. To address this, we are launching a three-part webinar series designed in a workshop format to provide practical guidance on implementing these principles in daily practices. Each webinar will feature experts with hands-on experience in action items listed in the Declaration. More
Declaration action points covered
This workshop is related to the Declaration action points listed below. The aim of the workshop is therefore to help attendees understand why these points are needed, how they are interconnected and how to practically undertake them.
PART 2 - An inclusive workplace culture is a healthy environment for all
- Establish a positive workplace environment
- Adopt and enforce a code of conduct
- Follow the Singapore Statement on Research Integrity
- Endorse the DORA Declaration on Research Assessment
- Provide onboarding/orientation for new employees to navigate organizational & local cultural norms
- Establish a mentoring system
- Promote healthy work-life balance
- Schedule all events during appropriate working hours
- Allow for flexible hours and teleworking where possible
- Facilitate access to child/family care (through onsite facilities and/or subsidization where possible)
- Establish transparent career structures
- Implement clear advancement criteria
- Ensure equal pay for equivalent positions
- Ensure equitable service loads for teaching, advising, and committees
- Explicitly recognize service contributions
- Consider broadening career paths to provide opportunities beyond PI role
This workshop is part of the ALBA-IBRO 'From Declaration to action' series and organised with the support of the International Brain Research Organization, a founding partner of the ALBA Network.
