As part of our new series on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in research software, we have published a new guide, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Research Software Engineering Space, written by PJ Annand and reviewed by Mike Simpson.
Equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) matter in research software because they affect who can take part, whose perspectives inform tools and practices, and how communities sustain themselves over time. The guide explains what each principle means in the research software engineering context and how it can be applied through Institute activities, community initiatives, and everyday individual action.
Unlike equality, which treats everyone the same, equity recognises structural barriers and the need for different kinds of support to achieve comparable outcomes. The guide also covers diversity alongside inclusion, which asks whether people can participate fully once they are there, and belonging, which is about how participation is experienced over time. Throughout, it points to real-world initiatives and community examples that put these principles into practice.
The guide is aimed at researchers, Research Software Engineers, research technical professionals, and anyone involved in or contributing to the research software community who wants to understand EDIB and take practical steps to embed these principles in their work and communities.