How can academic events be made more inclusive and equitable? A research team from Bielefeld University explored this question during a major international conference on behavioral research. Their findings have now been published in the journal Ecology & Evolution.
“Science thrives on diversity, but that diversity isn’t automatically reflected at conferences,” says Rebecca Chen, lead author of the study. A group of 25 researchers and students in the Biology Faculty not only co-organized the “Behaviour 2023” conference in Bielefeld, but also used the event to systematically measure inclusion.
The team analyzed more than 1,300 audience questions asked during the conference's Q&A sessions. They paid close attention to who spoke up, whether certain groups were underrepresented, and whether targeted interventions could make a difference. They also evaluated survey responses from over 300 participants.
Who asks questions shapes the conversation
One key finding: women asked fewer questions, not because they were overlooked, but because they volunteered less often. The assumption that session chairs could balance this by selecting women as the first to ask questions did not hold up.
Additional barriers were identified for people who identify as non-binary or come from the Global South. Participants that ranked their English skills or expertise lower also rated their conference experience more negatively.
However, relatively small measures could have a big impact, for example, clearly visible behavioral guidelines (a Code of Conduct) or free childcare options.
Engagement from Bielefeld
The “Behaviour 2023” conference was organized by four departments within the Faculty of Biology at Bielefeld University. The scientific team took an interdisciplinary approach, collaborating with colleagues from the social sciences.
The study was supported by the university’s Gender Equality Commission and the Department of Behavioral Ecology.
“Our findings are intended to help make conferences more diverse and equitable, not only in biology, but across all scientific fields,” says co-author Tuba Rizvi. The study is unique in its design: behavioral data, experimental elements, and a large-scale survey were collected in parallel during a live conference. It was a major logistical effort, but one that paid off. “With the right structures and practices in place, inclusion can become more than a goal—rather the norm,” Tuba adds.
With their publication, the researchers also offer practical recommendations for future conference organizers, showing that inclusion isn’t just a matter of goodwill, it’s the result of intentional design.