Walk the talk for Diversity and Inclusion: Meet Diversity and Inclusion Group’s new chair Per Runeson

When diversity and equity are set under pressure, it becomes even more important to walk the talk. This, according to Per Runeson, Professor of Software Engineering at Lund University, and the new chair of WASP’s Diversity and Inclusion Group, DIG.

WASP Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIG) was formed in 2021 with the purpose to increase the gender balance and to improve diversity in WASP. Some of its achievements involves increased representation of underrepresented researchers through directed calls, and workshops and courses within the program with different themes of diversity and inclusion.

Per Runeson, Professor of Software Engineering at Lund University, joined DIG in 2021, and is the new chair since the beginning of February.

Why did you join DIG?

“Gender imbalance – unfortunately – is still an issue in IT and related research fields. I have worked since the early 2000’s in various roles and forms in academia to increase the inflow of female students and faculty to the field. Actions range from local high school lectures as a teacher, active gender balanced recruitment as head of department, to a nationwide student recruitement campaign, ‘Välj IT’, when I was an education program leader. When DIG was formed in WASP in 2021, I saw an opportunity to maintain the strive for diversity and inclusion.”

What are you looking forward to in your new role?

“Being member of DIG since 2021, I humbly follow my predecessors, late Prof. Ivica Crnkovic and WASP director Amy Loutfi, and hope to contribute to diversity and inclusion in, and through, WASP. It is rewarding to work with the DIG team, diverse across gender, cultural background, career stage, and scientific categories.

As chair of DIG, I am also looking forward – with a combination of fear and delight – to be member of the executive committee to join the discussions about the WASP operations and represent the DIG perspective. I also look forward to soon welcome three new members to DIG!”.

Why is DIG’s mission so important?

“Equity and inclusiveness are desirable values per se, which make them worth striving for. However, I have a strong belief that the values contribute significantly to the research quality and outcomes of the research as well. Thus, DIG is a tool to further advance the research quality and utility of WASP.

During the current geo-political developments, when diversity and equity are set under pressure, it becomes even more important to walk the talk. In WASP, we demonstrate in action that diversity and inclusion is not a threat to excellence, but one of the underpinning conditions.”

How do you see DIG developing in the future?

“For DIG, I want to support existing and new initiatives in the strive towards gender diversity. Then I would want to extend the scope into what I refer to as cultural diversity. WASP has managed to attract a wide range of international faculty and students, which is an essential asset for WASP and Sweden. However, I think that we need to work more actively for the inclusion of cultural diversity into our universities’ leadership structures. Currently Swedish is the formal language at our universities and public governance principles which roots back to Axel Oxenstierna in the 17th century. No wonder we have few vice chancellors with international background in Sweden!

Another dimension is the scientific diversity, where WASP represents a broad range of topics, particularly when including WASP-HS. There are still untapped opportunities in learning across disciplines, which I hope we may address somehow in DIG.”.

More about DIG: Significant impact since 2021

Since its establishment in 2021, DIG has played a central role for diversity and inclusion efforts within WASP. Guided by research on discrimination and privilege in scientific and academic settings, the group has focused on actions that are data-driven and scientifically validated. This approach has led to several tangible outcomes.

One of the notable achievements by DIG has been the increased participation and representation of underrepresented researchers through directed calls. An example is the strategic recruitments of professorships within AI/MLX which has led to a significantly improved gender balance.

Other examples include directed activities within WASP’s events and the encouragement of initiatives led by individuals in the WASP community, such as workshops and courses along different themes of diversity and inclusion.

Curious to learn more about DIG, or interested to get involved? Welcome to contact Per Runeson at per.runeson@cs.lth.se