Science students at Laval University join the critics in denouncing the fact that white men are barred from bidding for Canadian research chair positions at universities across the country.
“Many of us have a future in research,” says François Plamondon, an undergraduate biology student who has launched a student movement against the practice. It’s far more rewarding to be a researcher in an institution that values what you do and that research is the most important element. »
“It’s a bit discouraging,” adds his colleague Louis-Joseph Brouillard, a master’s student in biology.
Six student associations, bringing together students and student researchers in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology, chemical engineering, forestry and environment, geomatics, and science and engineering, sent a December 31, 2022 letter to the Chair Program Research from Canada. They denounce “a superficial approach to the problems of equity, diversity and inclusion”.
The trigger was a call for applications for Canadian research chairs in biology at the Université Laval published in 2021. The appeal was limited to women, indigenous people, people with disabilities and visible minorities. The Québec government and opposition parties had unanimously denounced the “much too far-reaching” measures.
other methods
In their letter, the students call for “the abolition of this selection criterion in order to replace it with a policy that tackles these issues in depth” and “get to the root of the problem”. The Canada Research Chairs Program had not responded to Le Devoir’s email at the time of writing. “There is a lack of representation,” acknowledges François Plamondon. But there are so many other methods to counteract this. »
Universities must comply with federal regulations, which researchers depend on for funding to meet diversity goals established following a federal court ruling. The December 2029 targets are 50.9% for women, 22% for visible minorities, 7.5% for people with disabilities and 4.9% for indigenous peoples.
The Université Laval, whose members of the administration were copied when the letter was sent out, invited representatives of student associations to a meeting on Monday. The Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Sustainable Development, the Vice-Rector for Research, Creation and Innovation and a representative for Justice, Diversity and Inclusion must take part.
Solicited to respond, the institution emphasizes that this meeting “will provide students with an opportunity to present their applications with a view to the Canada Research Chairs Program.” “The university management would like to hear their concerns in dialogue. This meeting will also be an opportunity to introduce them to the various actions that the University has taken in relation to EDI. [équité, diversité et inclusion] “, we write.
The university states that before issuing a call for nominations for a Canadian research chair, it will assess the gaps that need to be filled in order to achieve the goals.
If the targets are met, all applications will be accepted.