Diversity drives scientific excellence. We work to build an inclusive Crick culture where everyone can thrive.
Equality is about fair and equal access to jobs, training, resources, opportunities and it's about preventing discrimination and removing barriers proactively.
Diversity means variety within a population. if you have a diverse workforce, you'll see representation of different genders, ethnicities, social backgrounds and more all through the organisation.
Inclusion means that everyone feels welcome and is able to thrive in an organisation. Ultimately, diversity without inclusion doesn't work. An inclusive workplace welcomes people bringing their whole selves to work.
"There is a noticeable lack of diversity in the microscopy community, which means that we are failing to engage all of the most talented minds in the effort to solve the grand challenges in imaging science.
In my team, we are working with In2ScienceUK, Black in Cancer and 10,000 Black Interns to improve our chances of finding and engaging those minds, no matter their background and early opportunities."
Lucy Collinson, Head of Electron Microscopy STP
“I worked for several scientific organisations before joining the Francis Crick Institute, but none had the same commitment to promoting workforce diversity.
I have been inspired by the Crick’s talented Inclusion team, and the dedication of the Crick staff networks such as Proud Crick, Enable and PRISM, who work tirelessly to build a more inclusive workplace culture that celebrates diversity.
To me, the Crick is world-leading in its approach to improving EDI in science.”
Nana Mensah, PhD Student
"I am committed to ensuring that the Crick is a world-leading institute, in terms of both our scientific discoveries and our approach to people.
This means embracing equality, diversity and inclusion. I am proud that we have been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze award, are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a participant in the Workplace Equality Index – but there is much more to do."
Lord Browne of Madingley, Chair of the Crick's Board
"Inclusion is about ensuring everyone is able to reach their full potential.
We want to promote a culture that respects and embraces difference to foster bold and creative thinking and encourage new perspectives and connections."
James Briscoe, Principal Group Leader and senior inclusion sponsor
Our inclusion strategy 2023-29 advances our institutional strategy, Discovery Without Boundaries 2021.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee includes representatives from Executive Committee to PhD level.
It is accountable for the strategy, and reports to Executive Committee and to Board.
We hold an Athena SWAN Bronze award, successfully renewed in 2025.
Our full gender pay gap reports are shared annually on our website.
Our Executive Committee support the five principles of Advance HE's Race Equality Charter.
Our 2020 Black Lives Matter statement.
We are a member of Stonewall's 'Proud Employers' programme.
We are a member of the Disability Confident scheme.
Our family and carers network
Prism: our race equity network
Proud Crick: our LGBTQ+ equity network
Enable: our disability and neurodiversity equity network
In collaboration with the British Science Association, we are co-leading the cross-sector Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science & Health coalition (EDIS), supported by a £10 million Wellcome grant over seven years.
We are a member of the King's Cross Knowledge Quarter.
We work with the EDI teams at our six partners: the Medical Research Council, UCL, Imperial College London, King's College London, Wellcome and Cancer Research UK.
