On September 18th, the Illinois Diversity & Equity Science (IDES) interdisciplinary network hosted a faculty networking lunch designed to spur collaboration and discussion about advancing diversity and equity science across the University of Illinois campus. This event brought together faculty members from diverse fields to share a variety of approaches to addressing inequality and to form partnerships that could lead to future collaboration and research projects.
During the networking lunch, participants discussed the strategic priorities of IDES, which are grounded in its commitment to elevating the importance of diversity and equity science on campus. These priorities include fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, developing mentorship skills among faculty, and positioning the University of Illinois to become a nationally recognized leader in diversity and equity science.
One of the group’s key goals is to create a foundation for multi-investigator research projects and to pursue major research grants related to diversity and equity. IDES also aims to develop faculty mentorship skills so that investigators can serve as mentors to students from diverse backgrounds. Building these mentoring relationships will help strengthen the pipeline of future researchers committed to diversity and equity science.
The lunch attracted 21 faculty members from 14 different departments, offering a wide range of perspectives and expertise. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions about what diversity and equity science means within their own fields and research programs. Each faculty member had the opportunity to introduce their research areas, and small group discussions further facilitated the exchange of ideas.
Eleanor Seaton, a member of the IDES leadership committee and professor of psychology, expressed her excitement about the event. “I was able to meet many of my amazing colleagues from around campus and learn about their research agendas. I heard excellent program ideas related to diversity and equity, including a plan to expand conversations about conducting antiracist science across the social sciences,” Seaton said.
Event organizer Elsa Augustine observed several conversations that suggested the potential for future collaborations. “I overheard discussions about everything from health programs and policies to tax reform and saw a number of faculty discussing ways they could work together,” Augustine remarked.
A suggestion board was used during the event, which yielded valuable feedback for IDES, such as seminar topics and the idea of creating a shared resource pool. Faculty also expressed interest in mentorship resources and information on academic publishing, which will inform IDES’ plans for future initiatives and programming. Stay connected with the latest updates from IDES by signing up for our listserv, and be sure to check out the event summary from our recent panel discussion on Race, Gender, and Identity in the 2024 Election.
CSBS is grateful to the IDES Leadership Committee: Dr. Travis Dixon (communication), Dr Avital Livny (political science), and Dr. Eleanor Seaton (psychology)—for their work in conceiving and planning the IDES events offered this semester.