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Diversity Catalysts

The Diversity Catalysts are Institute, Center, and Office (ICO)-designated leaders and experts who focus on providing input to the COSWD on developing new initiatives toward enhancing scientific workforce diversity and sharing and collaborating on opportunities to build and reinforce community.

The Diversity Catalysts:

  • Provide rapid and effective input to the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD) Office at early stages of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) strategy development
  • Implement and evaluate evidence-based DEIA strategies through pilot and expanded initiatives, within or across ICs
  • Share effective DEIA initiatives, lessons learned, and related insights with ICs to diffuse best practices across NIH
  • Advise ICs on strategies for tailoring DEIA initiatives to specific IC cultures

Importantly, the group has evolved to serve as an information and idea exchange venue and discussion forum for NIH-wide DEIA initiatives that impact the scientific workforce. The convenings are used to assure that all 27 ICs are apprised of developments that might be replicated or enhanced by collaborative efforts. 

In the past three years, the Diversity Catalysts have contributed to several COSWD office and NIH-wide efforts to build, reinforce, and promote a community of inclusive excellence across the workforce: