Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Bridging Divides Research
The Bridging Divides research program recognizes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as a cornerstone of excellence in leadership, governance, and innovation. We are committed to dismantling structural barriers within academia and BD research disciplines to enable full participation from underrepresented groups.
Our vision is anchored in four pillars:
- Co-creation with all stakeholders, including HQP, researchers, staff, and immigrant populations;
- Data-driven, evidence-based strategies informed by scientific research and best practices;
- Intersectional lens addressing diverse experiences of discrimination and systemic racism;
- Commitment to continuous learning through community outreach.
Our goal is to foster a research ecosystem with increased inclusion of underrepresented researchers and students, improved HQP retention rates, enhanced engagement and satisfaction for researchers and staff, and innovative outputs that highlight EDI at their core.
This page provides a curated list of resources to assist our researchers and HQP in integrating and prioritizing EDI in research design and practice. The list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly. If you have suggestions for additional resources, please email us at bridging.divides@torontomu.ca.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) uses EDI as an overall term that encompasses two approaches: EDI in research design and EDI in research practice.
- EDI in Research Design (EDI-RD)
EDI in research design involves designing research so that it takes EDI into account through approaches such as intersectionality, gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) anti-racist approaches, and disaggregated data collection and analysis that includes consideration of diversity and identity factors such as, but not limited to, age, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender expression and gender identity, immigration and newcomer status, Indigenous identity, language, neurodiversity, parental status/responsibility, place of origin, religion, race, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. - EDI in Research Practice (EDI-RP)
EDI in research practice involves promoting diversity in team composition and trainee recruitment; fostering an equitable, inclusive and accessible research work environment for team members and trainees; and highlighting diversity and equity in mentoring, training and access to development opportunities.