6 March 2025 IDEAS in 2024: fostering an inclusive and supportive institute Back to news Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Social Safety. Those are the keywords of the IDEAS committee at the Hubrecht Institute. Established in 2021, the committee aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment at the institute. The committee includes PhD students, postdocs, technicians, group leaders, and representatives from the communication and HR teams, ensuring a wide range of perspectives and expertise in its initiatives. At the start of 2025, it is time to look back at the achievements of the committee in 2024 and discuss their plans for this year. A successful year In 2024, the IDEAS committee and HR department joined forces to develop a booklet with essential information about the institute and practical guidance for living in the Netherlands, especially for international employees and students. A summary of the result can be found here. Throughout the year, the committee also organized regular Women in Science lunches to provide a platform for discussing the unique challenges faced by women and mothers in science, encouraging dialogue and community support. Last June, the committee organized a celebratory event to acknowledge and embrace the diversity of the Hubrecht Institute’s community. During this ‘borrel’, everyone was invited to paint on a big banner to showcase aspects of their identity, such as their favorite food, home flags, words in their mother tongue or hobbies. A celebratory event was organized by the IDEAS committee in June 2024 to acknowledge and embrace diversity at the Hubrecht Institute. Everyone was invited to paint aspects of their identity on the banner. Formulating goals In 2024, the committee created an IDEAS Action Plan to outline their long-term goals. Together with the HR department, the institute’s directors and the KNAW, they defined five core objectives: 1) enhancing social safety in the workplace, 2) creating a more inclusive work environment, 3) improving the physical and systemic accessibility of the institute, 4) measuring diversity within the KNAW and striving for broader representation of societal groups, and 5) building on grassroots initiatives and sharing knowledge within the KNAW network. "We hope to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered." Outlook for 2025 In 2025, the IDEAS committee will deepen and expand its efforts with a variety of planned initiatives. They will continue to organize the Women in Science lunches, to maintain a platform for women to share their experiences and foster mutual support. Additionally, the committee plans to organize awareness campaigns and workshops to tackle microaggressions and foster respectful communication. The committee aims to increase awareness and support for neurodiverse individuals within the workplace. Furthermore, they want to highlight the contributions and challenges of LGBTQ individuals in science through events and discussions. Finally, they want to start a discussion to emphasize the benefits of diversity in research and innovation and celebrate this diversity. IDEAS committee chair Ina Sonnen concludes: “The IDEAS committee remains committed to making meaningful progress in 2025 and beyond. By focusing on these initiatives, we hope to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered.”
