Magazine

Current issue 3-2025

Inclusive frontier research 


Science thrives on fresh ideas - and those come from many voices. Diversity and inclusiveness open the door to talent from every corner, spark creativity, and make discoveries more relevant to society. This edition of the ERC Magazine explores why inclusiveness and diversity matter at the frontiers of science.

In her editorial, Geneviève Almouzni highlights how the ERC has introduced specific measures – such as extending eligibility windows – to help researchers reclaim lost time and build resilient academic careers. By doing so, the ERC helps maintain a rich talent pool, essential for true scientific excellence.

Elyès Jouini, in his op-ed, makes the case for aligning excellence with diversity. ‘Embedding inclusion into the very definition of excellence is not optional; it is essential for producing more creative, relevant, and legitimate science’, he writes.

Lora Gailly examines the far-reaching consequences of exclusion in science. She contends that when women and other underrepresented groups are left out, our view of the world is distorted, with vital perspectives and innovations going unseen. 

Beyond policies and progress, this edition highlights the remarkable journeys of ERC grantees who address diversity and inclusion in their own fields. From projects exploring public space to research tackling inequalities in finance and environmental access, their work reveals a simple truth: only by embracing inclusiveness can European science - and society – reach its full potential.

Geneviève Almouzni

Editorial - Building inclusive excellence

At the ERC, we believe that true scientific excellence can only thrive in an environment where inclusiveness is valued and actively pursued. Diversity of experience and perspective generates creativity, resilience, and ultimately, groundbreaking discoveries. Our mission is…
At the ERC, we believe that true scientific excellence can only thrive in an environment where inclusiveness is valued and actively pursued…
At the ERC, we believe that true scientific excellence can only thrive in an environment where inclusiveness is valued and actively pursued. Diversity of experience and perspective generates creativity, resilience, and ultimately, groundbreaking discoveries. Our mission is…

Featured articles

Geneviève Almouzni

Editorial - Building inclusive excellence

At the ERC, we believe that true scientific excellence can only thrive in an environment where inclusiveness is valued and actively pursued. Diversity of experience and perspective generates creativity, resilience, and ultimately, groundbreaking…
Inclusive futures: ERC grantees tackling inequality through research

Inclusive futures: ERC grantees tackling inequality through research

Inequality often emerges in subtle ways – through life transitions, urban planning choices, or the daily rhythms of community life. Three ERC grantees are tracing the everyday moments where systems, decisions, and spaces shape who belongs, who…
Seeing the full picture: Why science needs every mind

Seeing the full picture: Why science needs every mind

Science thrives when every perspective is part of the story. Yet, with women making up less than one-third of researchers globally, our understanding remains incomplete, filtered through a narrow lens that obscures crucial insights, writes Lora…
Milena Arciniegas

Breaking boundaries and building materials layer by layer

When Milena Arciniegas talks about her work, she goes straight to the core: ‘What I do is chemistry, but combined with automation - we use robots to build new materials.’ Based at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa, the Colombian-born…
How science changes when all voices are heard

How science changes when all voices are heard

As EU research policy debates the balance between scientific excellence and societal impact, diversity - particularly the place of women in science - remains central to the discussion, writes Elyès Jouini.The figures speak for themselves: women make…
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