Building an inclusive scientific enterprise: institutional pathways for innovation and equity in Canadian science

Inclusion and diversity in science are essential to fostering innovation, particularly as the scientific community is increasingly called upon to address global challenges such as climate change, an equitable energy transition, and rising wealth and income inequality. However, the scientific community has come under heightened scrutiny, as shown by declining public trust and persistent gaps in representation and diversity across scientific fields. In response, several equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives have emerged to address systemic inequities and discrimination within science. However, as with many new initiatives, progress has been gradual, and evidence of what works remains limited. This underscores the importance of building knowledge from the outset and planning for systemic, transformative change. The conference-based study draws on a systematic review of inclusivity and analyzes survey responses and panel discussion content on inclusive science to explore stakeholder perspectives on inclusivity in science. It provides insights into what constitutes inclusive science and highlights the gaps, barriers, and opportunities for achieving an equitable and inclusive scientific enterprise. Applying institutional transformation and intersectionality theories as interpretive frameworks, the study concludes with recommendations for advancing scientific inclusivity, emphasizing the need to identify and address systemic inequities and blind spots, clarify the respective roles of institutions and individuals in fostering a culture of inclusivity, and encourage scientific organizations to lead the change toward a more inclusive, innovative, and representative scientific community.