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McMaster is among the first post-secondary institutions in Canada to sign the Government of Canada’s new Dimensions program and charter.

The Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter and a pilot program was announced in May and is supported by Canada’s three research granting councils – the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

The initiative is modeled in part on the UK-based Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) program and is aimed at removing systemic barriers for underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of racialized groups and members of LGBTQ2+ communities.

Dean Maureen MacDonald attended the ceremony where President Patrick Deane signed the charter with the Hon. Kristy Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport. In the Faculty of Science’s engagement survey conducted earlier this spring, a majority of faculty, staff, and graduate students agreed or strongly agreed that diversity leads to better science.

The Government of Canada is launching a Dimensions pilot program for post-secondary institutions that are interested in achieving greater recognition for their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Institutions participating in the pilot will help develop the policies and practices for achieving EDI certification.

Along with signing the Dimensions EDI charter, Minister Duncan also announced $17.8 million in NSERC Discovery Grants for McMaster researchers. The Minister then toured labs in the newly renovated A.N. Bourns Science Building, which had received $37.5 million in federal funding. During her tour, Minister Duncan met with Jose Moran-Mirabal, Canada Research Chair and associate professor with the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.