Scientific Societies Integrating Gender and Ethnoracial Diversity Efforts: A First Meeting Report from Amplifying the Alliance to Catalyze Change for Equity in STEM Success (ACCESS+)

This document is a peer-reviewed Perspectives article reporting on the first ACCESS+ convening held in September 2021, published in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. It details how the initiative integrates gender and ethnoracial diversity efforts within STEM professional societies through a three-part model:

1. Equity Environmental Scanning Tool (EEST) – A self-assessment adapted from the UK’s Diversity and Inclusion Progression Framework, covering 11 society functions.
2. Action Planning – Using Force Field Analysis (FFA) to identify drivers and barriers to DEI change and create targeted strategies.
3. Community of Practice (CoP) – Ongoing peer engagement, resource sharing, and collective problem-solving.

The report summarizes EEST pilot results from five inaugural life sciences societies, highlighting strengths (e.g., leadership commitment to DEI, clear DEI value statements) and areas for growth (e.g., intersectional data use, DEI impact assessment, bias mitigation). It describes common priorities across societies—developing DEI strategic plans, improving demographic data collection, increasing transparency, and integrating DEI throughout operations.

The article concludes that ACCESS+ supports societies in building DEI competencies, identifying strengths and opportunities, and sustaining change through collaborative networks.