Elsevier Foundation’s new programs support STEM diversity and developing country partnerships

Published: Monday 1st February 2016
Categories: NEWS, INCLUSIVE HEALTH, INCLUSIVE RESEARCH
Tags: SDG5, SDG10

Partnerships will focus on innovation in health information, research ecosystems, and nurse faculty leadership

The Elsevier Foundation has launched a series of partnerships in the fields of health information delivery, research ecosystems in developing countries, diversity in STEM, and nurse leadership. With an annual budget of about $1 million, the new programs have evolved from a decade of successful programming with the New Scholars program to advance women in science and the Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program. The new initiatives, which will run through 2018, draw from the experiences, communities and distinctive needs identified in these programs.

David Ruth, the foundation’s Executive Director, explained the basis of the plans: “Through our programming, we’ve learned a great deal about the challenges faced by researchers, doctors, universities and libraries in developing countries as well as those faced by women scientists around the world. With over 100 grants and $5 million invested in these communities, we think this is right moment to move to a more intensive partnerships model which will enable us to address research ecosystems, global health and diversity in science more broadly. This also offers us a more direct approach than our traditional request for proposals.”

The foundation’s new programs reflect an overarching commitment to the newly ratified UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the five essential elements for delivering sustainable development: Peace, People, Prosperity, Planet and Partnerships. “In essence, we have expanded and adapted the focus of our partnerships to align more closely with emerging challenges for the science, technology and health communities in health information delivery, diversity in the STEMM pipeline and boosting sustainability research in developing countries,” Ruth explained. The new programs will join the longstanding Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy partnership and the employee matching gift program.

Read the full article about the Elsevier Foundation’s new programs here:

• Ylann Schemm, “Elsevier Foundation’s new programs support STEM diversity and developing country partnerships”, 01 February 2016