Facilitating Discussions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through an Open Conversational Format: Graduate Students' Perspectives

The Conversation Series is a grassroots initiative consisting of monthly discussion events (Conversations) on topics of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), organized by and for the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) at McMaster University. The initiative originated in June 2020 with the #ShutDownSTEM strike, which urged reflection on anti-Black racism in academia and sparked a broader recognition of the need for EDI conversation within the department. The Conversations are informal, 60-90 min virtual events centered on specific subjects such as accessibility, mental health, or allyship. The audience (consisting primarily of graduate students, faculty, and staff) is invited to discuss the focus topic with subject-matter experts, share experiences, and ask questions. The goals of the events are to maintain a space for EDI-related subjects to be discussed; to provide key information about the subject to attendees; to support attendees in adopting more inclusive practices, and to bring awareness to the experiences of minoritized groups. Attendance numbers and qualitative observations of engagement were used to assess the success of each event. Initial observations show a largely positive response and the retention of a core audience. An increase in EDIenhancement initiatives in the department was also noted.

Automated summary

The Conversation Series is a grassroots initiative organized by the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University, aimed at promoting discussions on equity, diversity, and inclusion. These monthly virtual events invite attendees to engage with subject-matter experts to discuss specific topics and promote more inclusive practices. Initial observations suggest a positive response and have led to an increase in EDI-enhancement initiatives within the department.