May 3: Request for Consultations: Equity and Inclusion in Contract Research and Commercialization

To: Faculty members, including faculty members at the Affiliated and Federated Institutes of Waterloo, Graduate students, Postdoctoral Fellows

From: Charmaine B. Dean, Vice-President, Research and International

Subject: Request for Consultations: Equity and Inclusion in Contract Research and Commercialization

Note: This email is for information

On April 28, 2022, the University of Waterloo’s Office of Research, in collaboration with Canadian Equality Consulting (CEC), hosted a webinar titled Advancing Equity and Inclusion in Contract Research and Commercialization at the University of Waterloo. The webinar focused on the Office of Research’s efforts in identifying and addressing challenges faced by researchers, specifically those from equity-deserving groups, in participating in industry-supported contract research and commercialization activities. A brief primer on what was covered in the webinar and key details and FAQs regarding this initiative is available on the Research website.

Your voice is important in the journey toward igniting change and inclusively advancing the research and commercialization pathway. Importantly, we want to be more effective at the University of Waterloo in supporting various diverse communities in achieving their ambitions toward commercialization, and opportunities for research partnerships. As such, we cordially invite researchers (faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, research associates) who identify as a member of equity-deserving groups and are interested in or have participated in contract research or commercialization activities to take part in the consultations phase. Specifically, we welcome the participation of women, people beyond the gender binary, 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous Peoples, people from racialized communities, and persons with disabilities.
 
Consultations will consist of one-one-one interviews with senior CEC strategists, which will help to identify and understand barriers that could be impacting the participation of people from equity-deserving groups in contract research and commercialization activities. It will be an opportunity for you to share your ideas, thoughts, and experiences in a confidential, supportive, and safe space.
 
We recognize that confidentiality is very important in this process. No one from the university will be present at the interview nor will the interview be recorded. CEC will be conducting a thematic analysis of the feedback collected during interviews and reporting summaries back to key internal parties.
 
The interviews will be conducted via Zoom between May 9 and May 27 and will be 30-minutes in length. Please sign up for an interview timeslot through Calendly.
 
If you have accessibility needs which may impact your ability to engage in the consultations process, please contact Ivana Lochhead (ivana@canadianequality.ca) and/or Davy Sabourin (davy@canadianequality.ca) at Canadian Equality Consulting to ensure accommodation. If you have any general questions about this process, please also reach out to Ivana and/or Davy directly.