Resources & Tools

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Research Publishing

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are at the forefront of strategic priorities at Springer Nature. We are committed to serving a diverse and global research community.

As editors, you play a pivotal role in championing inclusive practices and ensuring we reflect our diverse communities through our publication process. We have created this hub with actionable guides, data insights, reports, case studies, and more to inform, inspire and support you in developing inclusive publishing practices. 

Get the information and inspiration you need to be a DEI champion, and to make your journal inclusive, welcoming, and representative. Find out more about DEI across Springer Nature Group.

Insight diversity

Addressing Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias) occurs without deliberate effort in all of us, as the brain makes automatic judgements about situations and people by relying on stereotypes and often incorrect assumptions. In the research and publishing ecosystem, it can affect decisions about funding, hiring, promotion, collaboration, credit, recognition, and publication. 

Learn more about unconscious bias and how to address it through our customized resources. Our new short course, Addressing Unconscious Bias, explores how unconscious bias works and introduces some strategies for challenging it as we work to create more open, diverse, and inclusive cultures within our professional/research communities.

Download this primer for a handy summary of key information from the short course.

DEI landing page

Resources and guides for inclusive publishing

Wondering how you can incorporate and promote inclusive publishing practices? Use these resources and guides to take intentional steps toward greater inclusion. 

Inclusive Language Guide and Sensitivity Reading Guide

How we communicate research findings can have an impact on their interpretation and wider application.  Find out more about Springer Nature’s Inclusive Language Guide and Sensitivity Reading Guide – two resources to support editors, and others (including authors and peer reviewers), to use bias-free language and presentation in research communication.

Inclusive Language Guide
Inclusive Language Guide
(PDF, 597.58 KB)
Sensitivity Reading Guide
Sensitivity Reading Guide
(PDF, 298.73 KB)

Ensuring diversity and inclusion in editorial board and peer reviewer recruitment

It is vital that our editorial decision makers and our peer reviewers are representative of the global and diverse communities we serve. In these easy-to-use guides on editor and peer reviewer recruitment, you will find practical tips and resources for what to consider when creating diverse and representative editorial boards and peer reviewers.

Find out more about diversity and inclusion in editorial boards and peer reviewers.

Inclusion and ethics in global research collaborations

9783030157456Learn about the actions Springer Nature journals are taking to improve inclusion and equity in global research collaborations, and how to avoid helicopter research and ethics dumping using the TRUST Code: a global code of conduct for Equitable Research Partnerships.

Find out more: 

scientist image © Springer Nature 2023Inclusion in research study design

Learn about how Nature Portfolio journals are providing guidance to authors on how to report on sex and gender, race and ethnicity and other socially constructed categories in published research studies.  

Find out more about why and how to design research studies to be inclusive:

Data and insights on the state of DEI in research and publishing

Get the insights and data you need to understand the landscape of DEI in research publishing and take action supported by data.

The state of DEI in the global research community

This report provides insights into the perceptions and experience of DEI within the global research community. Find out what researchers consider to be the leading barriers to advancing on DEI, how they perceive and evaluate DEI initiatives, and learn about the challenges of underrepresented groups in the research community.

DEI: why it matters in publishing

As the global research community grows in geographic and cultural diversity, and Early Career Researchers, in the US, Europe and beyond, become the most diverse generation of researchers yet – it is imperative that stakeholders in research publishing reflect the make-up of the research community. Learn about why diversity, equity and inclusion matters in research publishing and how journal editors can make a difference from this primer and presentation.