Equity

We believe that STEM-based learning enables youth to understand and impact the world around them. With approximately 6.5 million children and youth in Canada, our aspirational goal is to positively impact every one of them.

To do this, Let’s Talk Science is committed to providing a work and volunteer environment that is inclusive, supportive and welcoming for everyone. We strive to offer accessible programs, services and resources that are diverse, address systemic barriers, and lead to equitable outcomes for our audiences.

Our Commitment

Let’s Talk Science uses STEM engagement to empower youth and help prepare them for their future careers and citizenship roles. Long-standing systemic inequalities and biases have prevented the full participation of many audiences in STEM, including women, Indigenous people, People of Colour, people with disabilities etc. Additional barriers such as language, geography, access to technology and financial status have also reduced participation. Let’s Talk Science strives to intentionally build diversity and inclusion across all aspects of our work and programming to tackle barriers and inspire broad participation.

The world needs STEM; and STEM needs people with diverse perspectives, talents and lived experiences to address the most pressing issues facing our planet. To grow this participation, Let’s Talk Science is committed to engaging and understanding our audiences better, learning about underlying issues that may limit participation, and responding through all aspects of our work. We will work even harder to foster brave conversations about challenging issues.

Diversity Dimensions

We believe all youth are curious and capable, and we strive to ensure equal access to our programs and resources for all youth.

Our commitment to supporting equitable outcomes and access has underpinned our efforts in STEM education and outreach for nearly 30 years.

Let’s Talk Science aligns with the definitions described below.

EDIA is Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Equity refers to equal outcomes (i.e. different programming may be developed with different audiences to achieve similar outcomes). Equity encompasses fairness or justice in the way people are treated.
Diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another.
Inclusion is an organizational effort and practices in which different groups or individuals having different backgrounds are culturally and socially accepted and welcomed, and equally treated. Inclusion fosters a sense of belonging.
Accessibility refers to the ability to access or benefit from a system or process (whether or not one has a disability).
Equality refers to equal inputs (e.g. providing equal access to the same programming).