Commitment to Inclusivity

Inclusion is not separate from scientific excellence; it is what makes excellence meaningful.
Our understanding of a successful research group is scientific achievements creating equitable opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to pursue scientific excellence.

Five years of BUSI group (Dec 2021- 26), and a commitment to inclusion

As our research group completes five years at IIT Guwahati, we reflect on the academic community we aspire to build.

We believe that scientific excellence and social inclusion go hand in hand. We cannot ignore the fact that access to opportunities in STEM remains unequal. Women continue to be underrepresented in many engineering disciplines, and students from socially marginalized groups continue to face barriers to participation in higher education and research.

In this context, BUSI group views inclusivity as an integral part of building a responsible research environment.

Inclusion reflected in our research

The first five years of BUSI group published 29 journal and conference papers. Our publications reflect research leadership by women and students from socially underrepresented groups.

Our group published 29 journal and conference papers in its first five years (Dec 2021-26).
19 papers led by women as first authors, representing 66% of our publications.
13 papers led by first authors from socially marginalized backgrounds, representing 45% of our publications.

These numbers reflect not only participation in research but also opportunities to lead scientific work and be visible in the scientific community.

We recognize that publications alone cannot capture the full experience of inclusion, nor can they establish that structural barriers have been eliminated. Nevertheless, they provide a tangible starting point for reflecting on the research culture we want to foster.

BUSI group's commitment to equity and belonging

We are committed to fostering a research environment that recognizes the barriers faced by different individuals and communities.

Women in STEM: BUSI group is committed to support women students in developing their research capabilities, taking ownership of scientific questions, pursuing careers in academia, industry, and other research-intensive fields.

Socially underrepresented communities: BUSI group recognizes the importance of equitable opportunities for students from socially marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. We aspire to contribute to a research culture in which social background does not become an unnecessary barrier to access to science or professional growth.

LGBTQ+ inclusion: We believe that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and a sense of belonging in academic spaces. We are committed to a research environment free from discrimination, harassment, and exclusion, where individuals can participate without feeling that they must conceal or justify who they are.

We recognize that different forms of disadvantage can intersect, and that meaningful inclusion requires reflection and a willingness to improve.

Inclusion is a continuing journey

We recognize that a research group cannot, by itself, resolve the structural inequalities that exist across higher education and STEM. Nor do we claim to have achieved an ideal model of inclusion.

What we can do is remain attentive to the opportunities we create, the barriers our students encounter, the way we mentor and collaborate, and whose contributions receive recognition. We can continue learning from our students and colleagues, and work toward making research opportunities more equitable.

Five years mark an important milestone, but inclusion is not a milestone to be completed. It is a continuing responsibility that we carry forward in our everyday academic practice.