Terms of reference

Introduction

The members of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine Disability Advisory Committee (STEMM DAC) recognise the value of speaking with a clear authoritative voice on the inclusion of disabled people in STEMM education and employment. Our partnership aims to bring collective action and a strategic approach to strengthening the inclusion of disabled people in STEMM and believes that by working collaboratively and having a common purpose, we can maximise impact. The representatives of the member organisations will work together to contribute to and influence policy development on STEMM disability issues and will seek to use their evidence and expertise to influence government and other leading decision makers. The Committee will aim to ensure that it acts as a point of contact for organisations or individuals seeking to raise issues of concern to disabled people in STEMM, sharing and signposting to relevant resources.

Membership The membership of STEMM DAC shall comprise:

Chair and deputy chair:

• An independent chair

Candidates for an independent Chair will be sought by advertisement and asked to apply with a personal statement. A small working group will be set up to review applications, interview and appoint a new Chair.

• A deputy chair

The members of the Committee will nominate a Deputy Chair from amongst the core membership, who will serve for two years and will take on the role of Chair in the Chair’s absence.

Core members:

• BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT

• Campaign for Science and Engineering

• General Medical Council

• Institute of Physics

• Royal Academy of Engineering

• Royal Society

• Royal Society of Chemistry

• Science Council

• Society of Biology

• Wellcome Trust

 

Secretariat:

The Royal Society will provide secretariat for the Committee, and will work closely with, and support, the Chair. Meetings are hosted by core members on a rota basis.

 

Working Groups

• The Chair of the Committee will establish working groups when needed to facilitate particular projects, pieces of work or to further develop ideas.

• Working groups will be set up during committee meetings, with their remit and membership agreed at that time. Where possible, a balance of core member bodies represented across different working groups will be maintained.

• Working groups will mainly conduct their business electronically, but will meet as and when necessary

Members of the STEMM DAC will:

• Be committed to engaging in a fully participatory, consultative and representative process and reaching agreement by consensus.

• Be confident in making decisions and taking collective ownership of them.

 

Rules of Engagement and Quorum

• Committee meetings will be considered quorate when 50% of members are represented at the meeting.

• Any statement by STEMM-DAC requires approval by the quorum to be issued

• When fewer than ALL members sign a statement, the statement will only have those who have specifically agreed named and described as signatories, with their logos appended.

• For extraordinary statements required outside of a committee meeting, these will be written by the Secretariat unless a particular organisation or core member has specialist experience. All other core members will be asked to respond to any call for agreement to a statement before it is issued (providing it is quorate) in an appropriate timeframe set by the author of the statement

 

Our terms of reference                                

• To increase the influence and effectiveness of members, by providing a coherent voice for the STEMM community, promoting the inclusion of disabled people in STEMM education and employment, in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders.

• To contribute to, and influence, policy development on the inclusion of disabled people in all aspects of STEMM education and employment, based on the strongest possible evidence and on the agreement of all member bodies.

• To provide policy advice on barriers and enablers to disabled people in STEMM.

• To share and signpost to relevant resources on supporting and promoting the inclusion of disabled people in STEMM education and employment.

• To inform and unite the STEMM communities on key issues in policy on inclusion.

• To act as an advisory group for prospective or ongoing projects managed by the member organisations to improve the provision for disabled people in STEMM education and employment.

• To monitor the participation of disabled people in STEMM education and employment where data is available and relevant.